Aaron Seng was surprised when he made the All-Minnesota Academic Team. He hadn’t even known he was eligible—he applied for a scholarship through Phi Theta Kappa and then got notice that he was named to the team.
The Academic Team, supported by PTK, recognizes two-year college students who are high academic achievers. PTK, a nationwide organization that promotes student academic achievement, also provides the opportunity to develop professional and leadership skills, scholarships, career path exploration, and helps build networks.
“It’s a smaller honor society, but it’s really nice and there are a lot of scholarship options. If you do transfer to another college, there are a lot of options where they help you,” Seng said of PTK. “It’s an easy way to enhance your time at college.”
When he first started at SCTCC in fall 2023, Seng received an email inviting him to the organization. After doing some research and realizing they are community oriented on top of academically focused, he signed up. “I was like, you know what? It’s something that will keep me busy outside of work and school.”
Not that it seems like Seng has a lot of free time: he’s taking the Business Transfer Pathway accelerated option for transfer to SCSU and he continues to work at a bank he’s been at for four years. His time at the bank helped him choose the finance field; communicating with customers and helping them with their issues was something he could see in his future.
Getting the Academic Team distinction made him rethink the future a bit, too. He’s a double major at SCTCC: Finance and Business Transfer Pathway, and his focus has primarily been in finance, but he was honored for Business Transfer Pathway. Now he’s thought more about what his future looks like from the business perspective.
“I want to make my way up in a bank and then hopefully do something non-profits, helping with their finances and being able to start their organizations. I want to give back to the community, communities in need.” Seng explained. “That’s another reason to go into business [transfer pathway]—just to see how businesses actually work.”
The Academic Team members were honored at an event on April 11 in Minneapolis. Seng wasn’t able attend in person, but he did connect online.
With the All-Minnesota Academic Team distinction, his name is submitted to programs that award more than $41 million in scholarships, and Seng may be selected as an All-USA Team member and/or New Century scholar.