In a world full of Marvel heroes and action stars, the modern definition of a hero can have a colorful meaning. Challenging his students to dig deeper, Mr. Dexter is on a mission to lead students to find the true meaning of a hero, in hopes that each student finds their own hidden potential and responsibility to do their part to make our world a better place. Through this assignment, an eager student learns that his grandfather has more than just a decorated military background and truly discovers The Hero Within.

The Hero Within is just one of the inspirational stories you will find within the walls of the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes in Fort Scott, Kansas. Through project-based learning, the Center assists students and educators around the world to research and bring to life true unsung heroes.

The author, Michael Berndt, is a decorated educator and Milken Award recipient from the state of Kansas. Berndt is a former fellow at the Lowell Milken Center where he has assisted numerous educators from around the world in project-based learning. Dedicated to the development and discovery of unsung heroes, Berndt created this written piece of literature for teachers to engage students in their quest to discover unsung heroes.