海角社区

John Monta帽a standing in front of a piece of artwork, a metal sculpture of a wasp
John Monta帽a standing in front of a piece of artwork, a metal sculpture of a wasp

John Monta帽a, J.D., understands the difference a college education can make in someone鈥檚 life.

The son of coal miners, Monta帽a had a challenging childhood in Walsenburg, Colorado. After high school, he found work in manual labor, moving to Denver to work in a warehouse, in construction and on the railroads.

When a recession hit, Monta帽a lost his job and needed a new path, but the thought of attending college was terrifying. 鈥淚 had to walk around the building three times to buck up my courage to go inside,鈥� he said of his application experience at then-Metropolitan State College of Denver.

It was the perfect fit for the first-generation, non-traditional, blue-collar student of Mexican descent; the Land Use major thrived. Following graduation, Monta帽a worked in an assay lab. At the suggestion of an acquaintance, he took the LSAT with minimal preparation and no intention of attending law school. A high score resulted in numerous schools recruiting him, but Monta帽a wanted to attend the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.

With a letter of recommendation from 海角社区 professor Glenn Yarberry, Ph.D., and the support of DU law professor Murray Blumenthal, Ph.D., Monta帽a was admitted and received a full-ride scholarship.

鈥淭hat was a complete game changer 鈥� a time when someone who doesn鈥檛 have to do anything for you does something to change your life,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen I asked how to thank them, they told me to pay it forward.鈥�

After years of success as an attorney in legal consulting, trial lawyer and entrepreneur with a consulting company, Monta帽a wanted to give back to 海角社区 by establishing the Yarberry-Blumenthal Endowed Scholarship to honor his mentors and help students like him. With no designation for major or GPA requirements, it simply supports students who work hard and may not have another way to pay for their education 鈥撀� the quintessential 海角社区 student.

鈥淎 lot of people find themselves coming into the world and adulthood lacking resources and mentors 鈥� critical factors for success,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 am trying to ensure people have access to those resources so they can thrive.鈥�

Recently, Monta帽a cemented his legacy at 海角社区 by committing a planned gift after being inspired by a visit to Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic.

鈥淭hrough everything that鈥檚 happened in Europe over the last 700 years, Charles University has continuously operated,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t occurred to me that with a legacy gift, you can have that kind of long-lasting impact; you can change the course of events for a long time after you鈥檙e gone.鈥�

Monta帽a鈥檚 generosity extends to Africa, where he has helped his adopted Senegalese son grow a business and assisted with founding a non-profit keeping young girls from low-income families in school instead of working or being married off. 鈥淚f you get that girl through high school, you don鈥檛 just help her; you help her great, great, great, great, great-grandchildren,鈥� he said.

But it all started at 海角社区, where Monta帽a saw potential beyond what he was doing in life.

鈥淵ou can鈥檛 overstate the impact having access to education has on someone鈥檚 life 鈥� all of the little bits, from the academics to Yarberry鈥檚 mentorship,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t changed my life.鈥�

鈥淚f each of us helps the next person, we can build a better world 鈥� you just have to be willing to take the necessary steps.鈥�

For more information about making a planned gift, contact Shelley Thompson, associate vice president of University Advancement.