BILLINGS, Mont. – Max Melfi has a passion that reaches far beyond his love of the game of football. You can find the junior linebacker from Huntington Beach, Calif., teaching preschool when he is not playing for the Rocky Mountain College Battlin' Bears.

Melfi works as preschool teacher at Pricilla's Place in Billings, Mont., and has helped out, as part of his degree and as a volunteer, in classrooms across the community including Beartooth Elementary, Boulder Elementary, and Poly Drive Elementary.

Melfi was one of fourteen student-athletes from across the state honored in the fall by Montana Campus Compact for their community service during the Brawl of the Wild Football Game in Bozeman, Mont., on Nov. 23.

Looking back, I was never really the best student in school. I always liked going to school, but it didn't really click for me until kind of later on in life," said Melfi. "I really think I can get through to kids who are similar to me."

Melfi is thankful for Rocky Mountain College's education department as he believes it has had an enormous impact on his life. He credits the passion from his professors for pointing him in a great direction and making him want to be a better person.

"Getting a kid to realize something and getting that light bulb to go off is an awesome feeling," said Melfi. "Just being that person for them. Just being for them in general just goes a long way with them. And it's just really rewarding."

Melfi is pursuing a degree in elementary education with a minor in reading. After graduation, he plans to become a kindergarten teacher.