When Simone Bedi first saw the email, she wasn’t sure it was real.
Over the past year, she had received plenty of messages about honors societies and scholarship opportunities, and not all of them turned out to be legitimate. So when an email arrived announcing she had been selected for the 2026 All-USA Academic Team, one of the most prestigious academic honors in American community college education, her first reaction wasn’t celebration. It was skepticism.
Then she read it again. And again. And then it hit her.
“Once I realized it was legitimate, I was honestly shocked and incredibly grateful,” Simone says. “It took a moment to fully process, but it quickly became a very meaningful and exciting moment for my family and me.”
The 20-year-old psychology and biological sciences student at Scottsdale Community College (SCC) has been named to the 2026 All-USA Academic Team, a national honor presented by Phi Theta Kappa and the American Association of Community Colleges that recognizes just a handful of community college students across the country for outstanding intellectual achievement, leadership, and campus and community engagement. Simone is one of them.
A Journey Across Three Countries
Born in India, Simone spent five years living in Australia before her family moved to the United States at the end of 2022. By the time she enrolled at SCC in 2024, she had navigated multiple countries, education systems, and cultural transitions, each one requiring her to start over and find her footing.
“One of the biggest challenges I’ve had to overcome is adjusting to constant change,” she says. “Each transition came with academic and personal adjustments, like a new environment, education system, and people. But over time, I learned to embrace change rather than fear it. In many ways, my journey reflects the idea that the only constant in life is change, and learning to adapt has helped shape who I am today.”
Choosing SCC was a deliberate decision. Having spent only about a year in the U.S. school system before enrolling, Simone wanted a place where she could learn how everything worked before stepping into a large university environment. SCC gave her that space.
“Starting at SCC gave me the opportunity to ease into a new education system and find my direction before transferring,” she says.
More Than a Student
Simone’s time at SCC has not been limited to the classroom. As President of SCC’s Asian Pacific Islander Club and Secretary of the Council for Student Leadership, she has taken on real leadership responsibilities, organizing events, serving as a point of contact for campus initiatives, and helping build connections across the student community.
“Being involved has allowed me to connect with other students, meet new people, contribute to the campus community, and grow in confidence as a leader,” she says. “It has been a really important part of my college experience, and maybe an experience that really defined my journey in the best way possible.”
That combination of academic excellence and campus engagement is exactly what the All-USA Academic Team selection is designed to recognize.
What Comes Next
Simone’s path from here is ambitious. She plans to transfer to a university to continue her studies in psychology, with the long-term goal of attending medical school and becoming a physician.
“It’s a long journey,” she says, “but I’m excited for every step of it.”
When asked what she would say to another community college student who might not see themselves as the type of person who wins national academic awards, her answer is straightforward.
“I would say that it is not as out of reach as it may seem,” she says. “I honestly did not feel like I was doing anything extraordinary compared to other students. I was just a normal student trying to explore new opportunities, learn as much as I could, and stay involved. Do not let the opportunity pass by. Take it. You might be surprised by what happens.”
Congratulations, Simone. SCC is proud of you.