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For many students, exercise science is a field they’ve never experienced firsthand. Dr. Alex Montoye is working to change that.
In addition to teaching in Montcalm Community College’s exercise science program, Dr. Montoye spent much of his first year at MCC introducing students across the region to the growing field through interactive visits to local K-12 schools. As the college’s exercise science program enters its second year as a full-fledged major, those outreach efforts are already making an impact.
Dr. Montoye knows the power of a single experience. As a high school athlete, he was introduced to exercise science during a visit to a laboratory – an opportunity that ultimately shaped his career.
“I remember being fascinated by both the technology and the data it produced,” Dr. Montoye said. “That experience moved me beyond just being an athlete and sparked the career I’ve now spent the last 16 years pursuing. If the MCC exercise science program can create that same moment of inspiration for even a handful of students, helping them discover a career or educational path they’re passionate about, that’s a tremendous success in my eyes.”
One of Dr. Montoye’s most memorable outreach efforts took place at Lakeview High School, where he spent two full days during the spring semester working with Health and PE Teacher Todd Barton’s physical education, health and strength and conditioning classes.
Rather than simply talking about exercise science, Dr. Montoye brought the field to life. Students explored concepts using heart rate monitors, a vertical jump pad and grip-strength testers, collecting and analyzing their own data while learning how exercise science applies to athletic performance and everyday health.
The experience left such an impression that students immediately began asking when he would return.
“I told the kids that I was hoping to have him come in one or two more times this semester. And that was kind of a mistake,” Barton laughed. “All I heard up until he came back was, ‘Hey, when is Dr. Montoye coming back?’”
According to Barton, the hands-on approach made complex scientific concepts accessible and engaging.
“The kids really enjoyed the hands-on activities, formulating their own data, elevating their own heart rate and being able to read the monitor,” Barton said. “The kids experimented with various jumping techniques using the vertical jump tester to analyze how changes in their biomechanics influenced vertical jump height.”
Among the students eager for Dr. Montoye’s return was recent Lakeview graduate Lucas Vail, who spent his senior year in all three of Barton’s classes and participated in both visits.
“Everything we did was super tangible and tactile,” Vail said. “It gave kids a grip on what exercise science actually is. I think it’s very common for kids to hear the word science and immediately check out. They’re expecting a bunch of complicated terminology they don’t understand, but it wasn’t like that at all. It was easy to understand while still getting a general basis of the field.”
One memorable lesson explored the relationship between music and athletic performance. Pulling from studies suggesting that listening to music can help performance, the class ran experiments performing tasks with and without music, including music they liked and didn’t like. From there, Dr. Montoye let the class draw their own conclusions rather than telling them what to think.
“They developed a hypothesis, tested it through controlled experimentation, analyzed the resulting data, and then evaluated whether the evidence supported their original prediction,” Barton said. “It was valuable because they were able to collect quantitative data to investigate whether music influenced athletic performance and assess the results based on their individual findings.”
Vail, an All-State wrestler who is continuing his wrestling career at Grand View University in Iowa, jumped at the opportunity to talk with Dr. Montoye between classes about athletic performance.
“We discussed some things about heart rate and VO2 Max,” Vail said. “I really appreciated how he could talk to an eighth grader and explain the same complex things to me in a way that we both could understand. It’s not often you get to talk to someone who is really that knowledgeable.”
The visits have already influenced students’ educational plans. Barton said one student, who had already committed to MCC to play basketball, now plans to major in exercise science – a decision he believes was shaped in part by Dr. Montoye’s classroom visits.
Beyond recruiting future exercise science majors, Barton believes the program offers local students an exceptional educational opportunity close to home.
“I think this program provides an excellent opportunity for local students, especially given the rising cost of college tuition,” Barton said. “For students who live within the district, it offers meaningful financial savings without sacrificing academic integrity. Those interested in exercise science, under guidance of such an influential professor like Dr. Montoye, can pursue college level coursework at a reduced cost while remaining close to home, helping them build a stronger foundation for future career and financial success.”
Vail agrees that expanding opportunities at MCC benefits students throughout the region.
“I’ve always said if it wasn’t for wrestling that I would be going to MCC,” Vail added. “I love that we’re adding programs and athletics. It’s amazing for kids to have a close look at what they might want to study and pursue.”
While inspiring future exercise science majors is rewarding, Dr. Montoye hopes every student leaves with something even more valuable.
“Most of the high school students I interact with won’t come to college for exercise science,” Dr. Montoye said. “But I hope that by getting to guest speak in their classes, students will be more aware of the value that their behavioral choices around exercise, nutrition, stress management, and other factors will affect their longevity and quality of life. In our society, that’s such an important and empowering message.”