Patrick Monks
Fall 2023 John Jay Fellow
Hometown: Trumbull, CT
College: Western Connecticut State University
Degree: B.A. Professional/Creating Writing
To those who know him well, Patrick Monks is an adventurous, fun loving young man who loves his friends, family and serving his community. During his time at Western Connecticut State University, Patrick played on the Rugby Team and competed in the Saranac Tournament of New York. Being a lover of music and history, Patrick hosted his own radio show on WXCI 91.7, a local FM radio station beloved by listeners in the Litchfield Hills of Connecticut. The show consisted of poetry, history, and debates on hot topics. The show even boasts a small fan following. Elected as the news director of the Station in 2020, Patrick was responsible for creating news content and broadcasting current events and advertising music festivals. Patrick supported himself during college by working as a commercial truck driver.
Being an adventurous man at heart, Patrick makes a devoted effort to travel as often as possible. His travels have taken him all over the world. He volunteered at a children's hospital in Calcutta, India working with mentally handicapped children in slum neighborhoods. He considers Israel to be the most remarkable place he visited due to the country’s cultural, religious and historical significance.
Being a lifelong resident of Trumbull, Connecticut, Patrick is a member of the Long Hill Volunteer Fire Department. This requires being on call 24/7 and frequent training, often alongside local law enforcement. During his youth he worked as a lifeguard and taught swim lessons to handicapped children. Patrick also enjoys volunteering at local events and spending time with his four siblings and family. Patrick’s favorite hobbies are exercising, running, gardening, hiking, skiing, home brewing beer, reading and writing short stories.
After the John Jay Fellowship, Patrick plans to work as a journalist and eventually attend law school. Foremost, Patrick seeks to inspire others to find and follow God.