Business Administration major Emilio Siguenza hasn’t wasted time in making the most of his second chance at a college experience at Montgomery County Community College.

In addition to being the president of Rotaract Club at MCCC, vice president of leadership in the Alpha Kappa Zeta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the international honor society for two-year colleges; treasurer of the Honors Club; treasurer of MCCC’s Phi Beta Lambda chapter of the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA); writer for “The Montgazette;” debate club member and president and founder of La Hacienda at MCCC, a club that fosters cultural pride among Latino students; the 23-year-old from Jenkintown was also recently named to the All-Pennsylvania Academic Team.

Sponsored by PTK and the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges, the recognition honors an exceptional group of community college students who have achieved academic excellence and demonstrated a commitment to their colleges and communities. To qualify, applicants must have completed at least 36 credits and have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.

“I am honored and privileged to be selected,” Siguenza said on being named to the Team. “As a nontraditional student, I’m not normally one to be selected for these kinds of things. It’s pretty cool.”

The Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges recognized Siguenza, Colin Hogan, Julie Kerwood, and Massimiliano Simon with other award recipients during an April 8 ceremony in Harrisburg. 

Siguenza first attended a four-year institution after graduating high school, but the pandemic forced him to decide between his job and school, so he decided to drop out. He briefly enrolled at MCCC in 2021 but still couldn’t find a balance and left school. He started a job at a car dealership in 2022 and worked there for about a year before his clients at the dealership encouraged him to try college again.

“They convinced me to go back to school,” he said. “They said ‘No matter what, education is the foundation of your life.”

He reenrolled at MCCC in spring 2024 as a Business Administration major, focusing on quantitative finance. His goal is to pursue a career in international law or finance.

“I appreciated the openness of Montco for a second chance,” said Siguenza.

As a hybrid student, Siguenza takes three classes online and two on the Blue Bell Campus. Once he began studying, he wanted to take advantage of all that the College had to offer.

As president of Rotaract Club, he organized Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan's Purse, by collecting and packing shoeboxes filled with gifts for children in need.

With PTK, he initially joined in 2021 and was already a member when he reenrolled at MCCC.

“For students like me, PTK gave a lot of help,” he said. “Professor Catherine Parzynski was instrumental in my career at Montco. She helped me. I wanted to get more involved, so I became vice president of leadership.”

A big project he worked on with the group was a Halloween party in Parkhouse Hall. Students could draw pictures, collect stickers and choose Halloween names. Siguenza also used the party to promote La Hacienda, his new Latino heritage club.

“With La Hacienda, I thought it would be good to have a space for all students interested in Latino culture to talk, connect and learn something new,” he said.

His father is of Spanish and Mexican heritage. Siguenza and his mother are members of the Society of Mayflower Descendants in in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, an organization which perpetuates the memory, records and history of Pilgrim ancestors who arrived in New England from Holland in 1620. Siguenza serves as the organization’s assistant treasurer.

He’s also treasurer of MCCC’s Phi Beta Lambda chapter of FBLA and is preparing for state competitions in international business and finance very soon.

“The first competition is 100 multiple choice questions,” he said. “The second is a case study presentation where you get 10 minutes to prepare before you present.”

He credits Economics Senior Lecturer Joseph Waldo and Math Assistant Professor Scott Vaughen for their mentorship.

Outside of school, Siguenza went back to his job selling cars in January 2025 because he’s planning to transfer to a four-year institution to study mathematics and economics this fall, after he graduates in May. He said with so much going on in his life, it’s important to stay organized.

“Time management is the key to be successful in life in general,” he said. “Also keeping all bridges open. From my personal experience, the more bridges you keep open, the more doors stay open for you, just in case. Make good connections with professors and advisors. They’re the ones who make you successful.”

Pennsylvania’s community colleges collaborate with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) universities to provide a tuition waiver to eligible All-Pennsylvania Transfer Team members at PASSHE institutions, providing two years of tuition at any PASSHE university.