Ben-Reno Weber receives 2013 Chris Mattingly Award

April 30, 2013 - Ben-Reno Weber, CEO of the Kentucky YMCA Youth Association, is the 16th recipient of the Chris Mattingly Award for Outstanding Community Leadership in Kentucky.
Ben-Reno Weber receives 2013 Chris Mattingly Award

Ben Reno-Weber

About Ben-Reno Weber

As CEO of the Kentucky YMCA Youth Association, Ben Reno-Weber works to provide programs that seek to develop engaged citizens across the Commonwealth and advocates at the national, state and local levels for issues related to youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. He also helps provide scholarships to local financially disadvantaged students.

Reno-Weber is the son of Paul Weber, the founding director of the McConnell Center. Because of his strong ties with the Center, Reno-Weber has remained deeply loyal to the McConnell Scholars Program, leading seminars and acting as a personal mentor to many of the Scholars.

About the Chris Mattingly Award

The Chris Mattingly Award for Outstanding Community Leadership in Kentucky was established to honor the memory of one of the first McConnell Scholars. Chris Mattingly, 21, died as a result of a car accident on Nov. 1, 1996. He had completed 104 hours towards a political science degree at the University of Louisville and was a member of the first McConnell Scholars' Leadership Council. First presented in 1998, the Mattingly Award is given annually to an individual who reflects exceptional character and leadership benefitting the Commonwealth. McConnell Scholars nominate and vote to determine the recipient of the Mattingly Award.

Previous Chris Mattingly Award Recipients

  • 2012 - Dr. Julie Bunck, professor of Political Science at the University of Louisville
  • 2011 - Joe Dablow, Director of Planning and Operations in Undergraduate Affairs and Enrollment Management at the University of Louisville
  • 2010 - David Jones, co-founder of Humana, Inc., and Louisville philanthropist and businessman
  • 2009 - Dr. Henry Cunningham, Director of Student Engagement at the University of Louisville
  • 2008 - Rebecca Jackson, former Jefferson County Judge-Executive and director of the WHAS Crusade for Children
  • 2007 - Chris Kerrick, social studies teacher and track coach at Marshall County High School
  • 2006 - Dr. Charlotte Beahan, history professor at Murray State University and Kentucky Institute for International Studies faculty member
  • 2005 - Dr. Dale Billingsley, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Affairs and professor of English at the University of Louisville
  • 2004 - Dr. John Kleber, history professor emeritus of Morehead State University and the McConnell Center's "Kentucky Fellow"
  • 2003 - Carolyn White Shelton, guidance counselor at Russell High School
  • 2002 - Joe Bringardner, Associate Executive Director for Programs and the Louisville Metro District Director for the Kentucky YMCA Youth Association
  • 2001 - Jenny Sawyer, Executive Director of Undergraduate Admissions at the University of Louisville
  • 2000 - Rodney Williams, former director of alumni affairs at the University of Louisville
  • 1999 - Robert "Mike" Duncan, former chairman of the Republican National Committee and former White House Assistant Director of Public Liaisons with President George H.W. Bush
  • 1998 - Shirleen Sisney, Executive Director of the Kentucky Governor's Scholars Program