Male student wearing a crazy blue and yellow wig in the crowd at a football game

Early in Jack’s first semester at Montana State, he left his backpack with his laptop and books in one of the dining halls. (Totally on point Jack Steele move) He called home in a panic about how he was going to fail out of college and couldn’t afford a new laptop, etc. Sure enough, the next day when he went back to the dining hall, someone had safely set it aside for him. We knew he was in the right kind of school then. It began with a pizza dinner in Tumwater, WA in 2014 introducing us to the university. He was immediately drawn to this school. We made a campus visit that summer and were really impressed with the school, professors, and the engineering program. MSU was the first school that he was accepted to as well. Jack’s first year was rough, as most freshmen years. He took a really big bite off the apple in attempting 19 hours his first semester, and struggled with time management. He was in marching band, working on campus, and taking a very full load. By his sophomore year, he found his tribe in Cru, made some great friends in his engineering program, and settled into college life. Having professors that knew his name, the ability to do so much hands on learning, and applying what he was learning in class to various projects was just great. Jack grew up at this university. He entered as one mentor called him “The freshman-iest freshman he had ever met”. Four short years later, he had matured into a thoughtful young man, just about finished with his degree in Chemical Engineering. We are so thankful for the support we received from Montana State University in the aftermath of his death. Helping us with arranging transportation for students to come to Jack’s memorial service, to offering counseling to his classmates, and helping us with all the un-enrollment process, we were supported and guided so well through the worst days of our lives. President Waded Cruzado, Dean Brett Gunnink, Dr. Jeff Heys, and Dr. Matt Caires were so thoughtful in offering to honor Jack with his posthumous degree. I can’t even begin to describe the blessing that was to our family in our darkest hour. Karen Cantrell, Dr. Heys, and Dean Gunnink were also incredible to work with in helping us set up the Jack Steele Memorial Scholarship. We are grateful to be able to start this and look forward to being able to give back to this place and these students that means so much to us. We are proud to call ourselves Bobcats, thank you Montana State University.