For 2016 Hebron High School graduate Antonio Montez, playing football was more than a fun activity with friends. It was the culmination of a lifelong dream instilling numerous valuable traits in him.
As a high school senior, Montez received the Hebron High School Football “Award of Excellence” Scholarship through LEF. This scholarship enabled him to continue his love of football at Harding University while pursuing a degree in Accounting and Information Systems.
“My dad played football,” Montez said. “We were always watching football. It just seemed like there was no way to grow up here without playing football.”
Montez attributes his high school football team with molding a large amount of his character. Coached by former Hebron High School head coach Brian Brazil, Montez saw a consistent example of strong leadership.
“I didn’t have a lot of foresight at 17,” Montez said. “But I see now that the community he created and fostered was super important to growing up and seeing behaviors modeled by people you respect.”
Brazil led a remarkable coaching career at Hebron, with numerous playoff stints, coaching awards, and a state title. His success was evident beyond the win column, too.
“He wasn’t just after wins,” Montez said. “He wanted to make sure we knew peace and love.”
Brazil coached his team in an impacting manner both on and off the field, setting a strong example for his players as athletes and as young men. At home, Montez’s family also worked to instill strong values in him. This aided Montez in selecting a college that would grow him as an athlete, learner, and individual.
“[My parents] were very involved with the football team and the booster club,” Montez said. “They were always at games and helping out. They saw the atmosphere [Coach Brazil] created and saw that Harding provided the same thing on the collegiate level and that it would be very important for the impressionable young man that I was at the time.
“Things started clicking and I realized I was going to graduate in a couple of years. It hit me that a lot of people cared about me, and I wanted to make good on the investments they’d made in me. I was standing on the shoulders of giants who cleared the way for me to be doing what I’m doing now.”
Montez graduated from Harding University in 2021 with a degree in Accounting and Information Systems. Following graduation, Montez accepted a position as a software engineer at JP Morgan. His workdays often consist of meetings discussing various assignments with coworkers and working on software to help manage commercial business clients.
“Working at JP Morgan is something I’m proud of and it’s also something I think you earn every day by how you work,” Montez said. “Someone might want to slack off or somebody might want to do things in a way that I don’t believe is honorable or helpful and you [can choose to] maintain integrity, no matter what you’re working on.”
Montez found support in various aspects of his upbringing, including football, family, and beyond. LISD created numerous opportunities for him to learn and grow, equipping him for what the future held.
“I would like to say thank you for believing in me and investing in me. I think that the scholarship along with the support from the community helped me get to where I’m at now.”
While Montez no longer spends afternoons at football practices, many lessons he learned as a teammate continue to impact his work ethic and career. Receiving an LEF scholarship helped Montez take a tangible step toward goals he’d worked and prepared for. LEF is grateful to play a part in helping students build bright futures.
