Fowler Scholars Program Student Spotlight: Lucas Teel

Lucas Teel, Class of 2026.

The Fowler Scholars Program was created to educate and prepare a select group of Fowler College of Business students for accelerated and lasting leadership roles in global business and society. Each year, the college selects a new group of freshmen from the local San Diego area to become Fowler Scholars. The students who are selected for the program have demonstrated leadership, ethical conduct, and exceptional academic and collaborative abilities. 

Lucas Teel, a Class of 2026 Fowler Scholar, is a freshman majoring in Finance. On campus, Teel is a new member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s Fall 2022 class. Having leadership experience from high school, Teel is excited to see what he can offer to the Fowler Scholars Program. Teel discusses his first semester experience, describes what being a Fowler Scholar means to him, and more. 

Q: What does it mean to you to be a Fowler Scholar? 

To me, being a Fowler Scholar means being a leader. I’m very proud to be a Fowler Scholar. I believe being a Fowler Scholar carries a lot of weight because we are representing the school. It means a lot to be represented as special within the college of business and be given such a brilliant opportunity. Not only this, but the gift of mentors is one of the most important things to me and my success.

Q: Can you describe a little bit about yourself and how/when you decided to pursue financial services as an area of study?

I have always been very interested in numbers and the behind the scenes of business. This led me to pursue finance. Not only this, but a degree in finance is a very heavy degree with many career opportunities. I am not one hundred percent sure what I want to do in the future yet, so pursuing a degree that offers a variety of paths gives me the chance to explore different careers and find the one for me. I plan to adventure through a variety of internships throughout my summers of my college career and see what best fits me and my interests.

Q: What experience in the Fowler Scholars Program has been the most impactful?

The most impactful experience has been this specific phone call with my mentor. I mentioned that I wanted to complete a summer internship and she was very eager to help me find one and prepare for the application process. It was encouraging to see someone be so eager to help you succeed.

Q: If you’re involved in SDSU student organizations on campus or affiliated with any organizations off campus, can you share why you got involved and what your experience has been like so far?

At the moment, I’m only involved in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. I decided to join a fraternity because I feel like having a strong support system of friends is the best thing for a person. I also have another community with like-minded individuals who I can rely on. 

Teel and his SAE fraternity brothers.

Q: Who inspires you and why?

Mr. Lindner and my mentor have been huge inspirations for me. The way they have built their lives are something I want to mirror. Anyone who is a hard worker with good character is someone that I want to emulate. Mr. Lindner has been a great example of this. He is very understanding and kind, but holds me accountable when I make mistakes. I believe this is the perfect mix for someone that I want to learn from.

Q: What is the best advice you have received during your time at SDSU?

The best advice I received was to be involved as much as possible. Mark told me that if you’re comfortable with your workload then you aren’t working hard enough. I believe having a sense of responsibility will be good for my mindset.

Q: What career aspirations do you have following your time at SDSU?

Currently, my career aspirations are uncertain. All I know is that I want to be a leader. I’ve always been captain of sports teams and believe I have natural leadership qualities. I want to carry these qualities into my professional life and lead people. I have ideas of what I would want to do in the future but nothing is concrete yet. I want to complete internships every summer throughout my college career to learn what I like and don’t like.