Montana DeCamp

Classroom

Montana maintains a 3.998 grade point average in elementary education and has always thought outside of the box. Montana authored a children’s book, “If I Could Change Math,” written for an elementary education class during her junior year. She will be completing her special education student-teaching in the Fall of 2020 and then complete her kindergarten and general education student teaching obligations in the Spring of 2020. Montana is a three-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Scholar Athlete. She was named to the 2019 Summit League All-Academic team. Montana has been named to the league’s honor roll three times and appeared on the Commissioner’s List twice. She has been named to the NDSU Blue Key Honor Society three times and is a regular on the Dean’s List.

Character

Montana combines her vibrant personality and dynamic energy to complete a hectic schedule. She was named to the 2019 NDSU Homecoming Court. At NDSU, she said she has experienced what it means to dominate, commit, and be a part of something bigger than herself. Throughout her development, she has been surrounded by support. This has been instrumental in her growth as an athlete, student, and person. She has spent a lot of time with past and present teammates, fellow athletes, and athletic faculty. They have helped to instill in her the “Bison Way”. Her positive development through the “Bison Way” is directly related to the constant challenges and high standards those around her demanded. The goal is to never change who you are but to change how you are. She changed how she managed her time, how she put others before herself, and how she demanded her best at all times.

She said, “I haven’t changed who I am since becoming a Bison, but I have changed how I am. I am more comfortable with my abilities. I am a servant-leader. I am a goal-driven, team player. I am always a Bison.”

Community

Montana has taken part in a number of community service projects around the Fargo-Moorhead community. She is the president of NDSU’s Student-Athlete Advisory Council. She has been a spokesperson for the organization and has helped raise money and gather toys. All donations helped support the Ronald McDonald House of the Red River Valley, which assists families with children receiving medical care and provides home-like comfort, support and, care for the families. Ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, she spearheaded the collection of food items and money as part of the Summit League “Food Fight” and donation to the Fargo Emergency Food Pantry. Montana is active with Bison softball camps and clinics, working with young athletes grade sixth and up. She is thankful for the high competition, life-long relationships, and personal growth experienced at NDSU.

She said, “You know it is okay to call Fargo home, right? Because that’s what a special place becomes to you; a home.”

Competition

Montana will be a four-year starter at the demanding position of shortstop for North Dakota State. She enters her senior year having started 170 games at shortstop. Montana is a two-time All-Summit League first team selection and was named to the Summit League All-Tournament team in 2017. NDSU has won a pair of Summit League regular season championships, three Summit League tournament titles and made three trips to the NCAA tournament. She is coming off her best season in 2019, hitting. 306 with seven home runs, 28 runs scored, 26 runs batted in, and a pair of doubles.

Montana knows the importance of being a role model, stating, “I have had role models who showed me the benefit of not just committing sometimes but committing all the time. These role models were life-long learners and growers. I want younger players to understand, not only through my words, but by my actions, the benefit of being life-long learners. Having a desire to gain knowledge will set you up to have life-long success in anything and everything that you do.”