Class of 2024: Jake Montgomery

For UA graduate, family sparked success in second stint at University

Jake Montgomery will be the student speaker at the Spring 2024 College of Health and Human Sciences Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 11, at 1 p.m. in the James A. Rhodes Arena. He is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy. Jake will begin his career at Akron Children’s Hospital as a respiratory therapist and plans to pursue a master’s degree in respiratory therapy.

Q: In which campus activities have you been involved?

A: I did a lot of volunteer work for the College of Health and Human Sciences. I helped organize an isolette blanket-making party between the respiratory therapy department and the nursing department. I also participated in a walk to help raise awareness for the prevention of suicide. I attended a lot of student recruitment events over the years, teaching new incoming freshman and high school students about respiratory therapy. I was also the president of the Organization of Respiratory Therapy (O2RT), which is the respiratory therapy student organization.

Q: What campus honors or awards have you received?

A: I've been on both the Dean's list and President’s list every semester since returning to school in 2020. I was also selected as the Respiratory Therapy Graduating Student of Honor. 

Q: What are your plans after graduation?

A: I plan to go on to get my master’s degree in respiratory care and begin working as a full-time respiratory therapist at Akron Children's hospital. 

Q: What is your favorite memory of UA?

A: Recently, the respiratory therapy department took respiratory equipment to Buchtel CLC Middle School to introduce young kids to the career of respiratory therapy. It was great to see young faces learn about something new. When I first attended UA, we used to have some killer RooFest fairs. We had bands like 3oh!3 and Owl City come for concerts at InfoCision Stadium. That was awesome.

Q: What unique things should we know about you?

A: I'm a pretty boring guy, so some folks are surprised to find out that in high school I skateboarded often and had long hair. I'm bald now. But I'm still an alternative rocker kid at heart and I love tattoos. And I'm trying to learn woodworking.