What is your background?: My name is Andrew Montelius, and I am from Cedar Rapids, Iowa and went to Prairie High School. My mother Angela is from Cedar Rapids and my father Alan is from Dubuque but moved to Cedar Rapids in the 1980’s to attend Kirkwood. After graduating high school, I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served as an infantryman within 2nd Battalion 5th Marines, from 2015 to 2019. I started Kirkwood in 2019 in pursuit of a degree in Fire Science.
What brought you to Kirkwood and why?: I chose Kirkwood because the highly reputable firefighting program. I found my passion to pursue a career as a Firefighter and knew that Kirkwood would be an excellent place to start. In addition to the excellent education, Kirkwood has always piqued my interest with its rich student opportunities and beautiful campus.
What is your program of study and what interests you about it?: My program of study is Fire Science Technology. The depth of information and education that is within the program is what interests me the most. Another great aspect of the program is that it combines textbook learning with hands-on experience to really zero in on the skills needed to pursue a career as an emergency responder.
Are you involved in anything off of campus?: I am not involved in anything off campus.
What do you do for fun?: For fun I like to spend time with family and friends, traveling with people that are close to me has always been a special value of mine. Spending my free time outdoors doing several recreational activities such as fishing, hunting, biking, running, hiking, sight-seeing, and boating has always been a big part of my life. During the warmer months I try to get out as much as possible and explore the beautiful landscape of the Midwest with my family.
Where do you see yourself in five years?: In five years, I hope to see myself as a career firefighter in Iowa continuing the passion I have now. I am excited to apply all the knowledge and training I have gained through Kirkwood to help people in and around the community.