BPA standout named 2018 Coca-Cola Academic Team Bronze Scholar
Marta Roth, 22, of Rosemount, Minnesota, a student at Dakota County Technical College, has been named a 2018 Coca-Cola Academic Team Bronze Scholar. Marta will receive a $1,000 scholarship.
The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation sponsors the Coca-Cola Academic Team program by recognizing 50 Gold, 50 Silver and 50 Bronze Scholars with nearly $200,000 in scholarships annually. Each scholar also receives a commemorative medallion. States may have multiple Gold, Silver and Bronze Scholars.
“The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation has a long history of providing financial assistance to outstanding students at community colleges,” said J. Mark Davis, Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation president. “We are proud to partner with Phi Theta Kappa and make it possible for deserving students to achieve their educational goals.”
Students are nominated for the academic team by their college administrators. Selection is based on academic achievement, leadership, and engagement in college and community service.
“I am honored to be chosen as a recipient of this scholarship,” Marta Roth said. “I am excited about the possibilities the scholarship creates for me as I consider my college transfer options. To the DCTC faculty who nominated me for this scholarship, I would like to thank them for recognizing my efforts and for believing in me.”
Coca-Cola Academic Team members will be recognized in both local and statewide ceremonies. Members will also be recognized internationally during the Phi Theta Kappa annual convention, PTK Catalyst, April 19–21, 2018, in Kansas City, Missouri.
More about the Coca-Cola Academic Team…
The Coca-Cola Academic Team recognizes high achieving two-year college students who demonstrate academic excellence and intellectual rigor combined with leadership and service that extends their education beyond the classroom to benefit society.
To be eligible for this program, students must submit an application for the All-USA Academic Team and be selected as a nominee by their college.
The Coca-Cola Academic Team is sponsored by The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation.
To learn more visit, Coca-Cola Academic Team.
“We thank the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation for recognizing these student leaders and for investing in their futures,” said Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner, Phi Theta Kappa president and CEO. “Scholarships like these are integral to the success of these students in reaching their educational and career goals.”
Tim Wynes, JD, president of DCTC and Inver Hills Community College, believes strongly in the value of Phi Theta Kappa membership for students at both colleges. President Wynes was recently honored by the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society National Center for Excellence with the Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction. In October 2017, President Wynes received the Phi Theta Honorary Member Award at the fall semester PTK Induction Ceremony at Inver Hills.
“We are exceedingly proud of Marta,” the president said. “She is highly deserving of this national recognition and the corresponding scholarship. Marta also excels as a member of the college’s Business Professionals of America chapter. In May 2018, she will be competing at the BPA National Leadership Conference in Dallas, Texas.”
More about PTK at DCTC…
Phi Theta Kappa is recognized as the official honor society for community colleges by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). PTK provides many leadership and civic engagement opportunities for students. To be eligible for membership, you must have completed a minimum of 12 hours of coursework at DCTC with a cumulative GPA of 3.5. Invitations to join the society are mailed to eligible students at the end of each semester.
Note: Phi Theta Kappa takes its name from three Greek letters symbolizing the words phronimon, meaning wisdom, thumos, meaning purity, and katharotes, meaning aspiration.
To learn more about PTK, visit About Us on the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society website.
You can also read “It’s Okay to Say ‘PTK'” by Monika Byrd, Phi Theta Kappa dean of leadership development and service-learning.
You can connect with PTK at DCTC by visiting Phi Theta Kappa.
For PTK event photos, visit:
Phi Theta Kappa Induction Ceremony Spring 2018 on Flickr.
More about Marta Roth…
Marta Roth
Marta Roth double-majored at DCTC, earning an A.S. in Business Administration and an A.A.S. in Accounting, finishing the latter degree in December 2017. Marta was home-schooled and graduated from the “Roth Home School” Class of 2014. She took online courses from Northwestern University to complete a number of her generals.
“I am taking a Management Effectiveness class this semester just because I thought it would be useful,” Marta said. “I am planning to transfer to a four-year institution in the fall, although I have not selected a school yet.”
Marta Roth with Marie Saunders, BPA faculty advisor
Marta joined BPA to enhance and accelerate her career goals. She serves as Minnesota BPA College Division president. In 2017, she competed at the BPA NLC in Orlando, Florida, taking home two second-place finishes and one third-place finish along with five top-10 medals. She also received the BPA Ambassador Award and a $650 scholarship.
“It would be hard to count all the new experiences I have had as a member of BPA,” said Marta, who registered eight first-place, two second-place and two third-place finishes at the 2018 BPA SLC. “I have traveled throughout the state, spoken with state legislators, served as the president of the Minnesota College Division, and placed in competitions at the national level. The best part about being in BPA, though, is not what I have done, but who I have become. New opportunities are presented to me all the time, and BPA has given me the confidence, knowledge and leadership skills I need to make the most of those opportunities every day.”
Marta is certified in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint at her first BPA National Leadership Conference in Boston in 2016. She was happy to report that taking certification tests at the NLC costs only $5 each.
As a DCTC graduate, Marta would be looking forward to walking during the commencement ceremony at Grace Lutheran Church in May 2018, but she will be in Dallas competing in her third NLC. She will be entered in three events, She qualified for the nationals in all three during the 2018 BPA State Leadership Conference (SLC) February 22–24, 2018, in Moorhead, Minnesota.
Marta’s family includes her dad, Jeff, her mom, Lori, her twin brother, Shelby, who attends DCTC and belongs to BPA, and a golden retriever named Zane. When she’s not studying or working, Marta enjoys reading all kinds of books, watching movies, teaching junior high girls and “exploring the beautiful world we live in.”
Marta Roth Q & A
Do you work while going to college?
I had been working part-time at Firefly Credit Union as a member service representative. In January, I started as a full-time digital services support specialist at Firefly, which has been a great fit for me because my job responsibilities more closely align with my skills now.
What are your transfer plans after DCTC?
I would like to transfer to a four-year institution in the fall to earn a bachelor’s degree. I do not have a school picked out, but I am looking at online degree completion programs at several colleges. I am also considering a couple on-campus programs, possibly the Carlson School of Management at the U of M. I would really like to study abroad. I love Spanish and I am thinking about Chile or Argentina.
What are your long-range career plans?
This is a hard question because I think I would be happy doing a lot of different things. I have enjoyed the experiences I have had in finance at DCTC and BPA, so right now I am exploring that field. I am currently shadowing the Finance department at Firefly a couple hours per week, which has been fascinating.
Why did you choose DCTC?
I originally chose DCTC because it is affordable and conveniently located, but what I love about DCTC is the college’s emphasis on education for employment. I have gained practical, real-world knowledge in my classes as well as confidence and experience through the extracurricular activities and workshops offered.
Why did you choose your career field?
When I started college, I did not have a very clear vision of where I wanted my career to go, so business seemed like a good foundation that would be useful even if I decided to change my major down the road. My interest in accounting developed when I took the accounting classes required for my business degree, and my experiences at Firefly have increased my interest in finance.
Three words that describe you as a college student:
AMBITIOUS. INDUSTRIOUS. PASSIONATE.
What duties do you perform as BPA Minnesota Division president?
As president, I help set our officer team’s goals for the year. I am the student representative on the Minnesota Post-Secondary Board of Directors. I will also get to assist with interviewing next year’s state officer candidates.
I have other duties that are not specific to my position as president. I worked with my officer team and many others to prepare for our State Leadership Conference in February and our Professional Development Conference in November. The officers run the opening and closing ceremonies at the conferences, coordinate the social events and Special Olympics fundraisers held at the conferences, and have the privilege of handing out awards at the awards ceremony at SLC. We also travel around the state in January to judge at the regional competitions for secondary BPA. We promote the Minnesota College Division at the Spring Leadership Conference for secondary members in March.
Just recently, we went to the Minnesota State Capitol and met with five of our representatives to promote BPA and other Career and Technical Student Organizations. In May, we will serve as voting delegates at the National Leadership Conference. We meet all the candidates at the campaign rally, interview each of them individually, and then vote for the candidates we feel are most qualified to lead and represent BPA.
Marta with Rep. Anna Wills
What do you like best about BPA?
I love being a state officer because I have gotten to do so many incredible things in the position, and I love the relationships I have developed with other BPA members. Not only are these people able to endorse my skills and contribute to my professional development, but they are also close friends. Some of my favorite memories from BPA consist of playing games, making jokes, and staying up too late with my state officer teams, other BPA members and BPA alumni.
What have you learned from BPA competitions?
I have learned that growing and learning are more important than being the best. It is good to choose competitions in which you believe you have the highest chance of success, but it is also wise to compete in events that you do not feel as comfortable with because those will usually produce the most growth.
What is your favorite BPA competition and why?
Banking and Finance. I have been working at Firefly Credit Union for almost two years, and I have learned so much about finance in this role. Many of the test questions directly relate to the information that I use all the time at the credit union, and it is very validating to see how much I have learned since I started there.
What’s the strangest thing that happened to you during a BPA competition?
When I was in Boston for my first National Leadership Conference, I was on my way to a competition when the fire alarms in the hotel started going off. I did not know why they had sounded and if we were actually supposed to evacuate the building, so I kept on walking to my competition because no one else seemed to be worried—and I did not want to be late. We had to wait a while for the proctors to figure out whether there was a legitimate emergency. Once they determined that it was a false alarm, we were finally able to start the test.
What advice would you give students about how to get the most out of college?
Don’t wait for opportunities to come to you; go look for them. Try everything you can. You may not be good at everything, but you will likely discover skills you did not know you had, and you will have more chances to improve your skills through practice. You can only learn so much by reading and theorizing; true growth happens in the application.
Marta Roth gallery
What has been your toughest challenge in life?
It is hard for me to balance my short-term and long-term goals. I tend to fill up my schedule with things that get me closer to my short-term goals, and then I do not have enough time for the personal development and nonacademic learning I would like focus on. It is easier for me to accomplish tasks than produce lasting change in my character and my habits, so I am learning how to dedicate more of my time to those endeavors.
What is your greatest accomplishment?
Earning both of my degrees at DCTC.
What person has influenced you the most in life?
My dad has had the biggest influence on my life. My work ethic and love of learning come primarily from him.
What is the most amazing thing that’s ever happened to you?
Being given eternal life in Jesus Christ. After that, living with my friends in Croatia for a month during my senior year of high school and spending a day in Venice.
What is the most important function of BPA?
BPA develops professionalism, leadership and networking skills in students as they participate in business-related competitions and service activities.
What would you tell a student who is considering joining BPA?
BPA will build your resume, your professional network and your confidence in yourself—and it will give you the foundational soft skills that you need to be an effective employee. You will also meet like-minded friends who truly care about you and help you succeed. The people and experiences of BPA have changed my life, and I cannot recommend this organization enough.
More about BPA…
Business Professionals of America (BPA) is the premier CTSO (Career and Technical Student Organization) for students pursuing careers in business management, information technology, finance, office administration and other related career fields.
With 45,000 members in over 1,800 chapters across 25 states and Puerto Rico, BPA is a co-curricular organization that supports business and information technology educators by offering co-curricular exercises based on national standards. Read more…
— Courtesy of BPA
DCTC BPA chapter officers
- Juan Vega: President, Accounting major
- Eric Skarman: Vice President, Accounting major
- Sarah Escamilla: Secretary, Executive Assistant major
- Glenn Sullivan: Treasurer, Accounting major
DCTC BPA students serving as state officers for the Minnesota BPA College Division:
- Marta Roth, President
- Ryan Monio, Vice President of Public Relations
Check out the following links to learn more:
- Business Professionals of America | DCTC Website
- Business Professionals of America | Minnesota Division
- Business Professionals of America | National Website
Marta Roth | 21 Answers
- Favorite season: Fall is my favorite. I love the crisp mornings and the feeling of a new beginning.
Favorite natural feature (e.g., waterfalls, oceans, mountains, etc.): I think valleys are beautiful, especially when they have little towns built into them.- Favorite sport or physical activity: I love riding my bike. It is the feeling of freedom, and I have discovered my favorite places to be alone and think while biking.
- Your national bird if you could have one: I would stick with the bald eagle. It is so majestic and free.
- Place you would most like to visit: Spain because I love Europe, and I love the Spanish language.
- Favorite holiday: Easter is my favorite. Christmas is the most fun, but Easter has the most meaning to me.
- Your national mammal if you could have one: I would pick the German shepherd because it is strong, intelligent, loyal and courageous.
- Favorite actor or actress: Katharine Hepburn
- Favorite band or performing artist: Meredith Andrews. I got to meet her at the Mall of America one time. That was a cool day.
Your personal motto if you had to have one: “Love people and never stop learning.”- Coolest thing in the world: People. They are so creative and so unique, yet in the most important ways we are all the same.
- Scariest thing in the world: Horror movies
- Favorite all-time TV show: I enjoy watching The Profit, which is about a highly successful businessman who invests money and ideas into failing businesses to help make them profitable. I also really like Say Yes to the Dress.
- Favorite all-time movie: Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner. It is about an interracial couple that decides to get married when interracial marriage had just been legalized in some but not all of the states. It examines the social implications of the marriage at that time and portrays the emotions and tensions it caused in the couple’s family relationships. It is a beautiful film.
- One thing you most want to accomplish in life: I would like to get married and have kids.
- Most precious material possession: I’m a very sentimental person, but nothing really stands out to me. I do have this silver necklace that holds a piece of coal from the Titanic that I am pretty attached to. I got it from a museum exhibit during the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic.
- First thing you would buy if you won the $1.5 billion Powerball: The services of an excellent tax advisor.
Dream occupation: I want to be a mom. That’s the same answer I have been giving since kindergarten, and it is still true. I would also like to homeschool my kids one day.- Person you would most like to meet: Bob and Maria Goff, authors of Love Does and Love Lives Here. I want to be as adventurous, passionate and grounded in sound principles as they are.
- Skill you would most like to learn and master: Communication. I would like to always know when to speak and when to listen, what to say and what to leave unsaid, and how to best express my thoughts and feelings in ways that build people up and strengthen my relationships.
- Humankind’s greatest challenge: Pride. It is at the root of every problem we face. If people were to properly assess their own value and the value of others, there would be much more humility and love, and the world would be a better place.
To learn more about Phi Theta Kappa at DCTC, contact:
Scott Gunderson
Business Management Faculty
Phi Theta Kappa Faculty Advisor
651-423-8295
To learn more about BPA at DCTC, contact:
Marie Saunders
Accounting Faculty
BPA Faculty Advisor
651-423-8390
Candace Carlstrom
Administrative Technology Faculty
BPA Faculty Advisor
651-423-8389
