SAN DIEGO – Laukoa Santos of the SDSU men's soccer team won the first ever All-Aztecs Going Pro Award at the inaugural A.C.E. Award ceremony. The award recognizes a student-athlete who has exemplified personal growth, career development, and civic engagement throughout their time at SDSU.
Santos established himself as a standout in his Senior Send-Off Aztecs Going Pro course to ensure he was ready for life after soccer. A four-time All-Pac-12 All-Academic selection, Santos attended the Major League Soccer combine and then signed a professional contract with Charlotte FC. In addition to his talent on the pitch, Santos also maintained a 3.20 cumulative GPA as a business administration major.
"Laukoa has done what we hope for all of our student-athletes in our Aztecs Going Pro program," Danielle Kelly, SDSU's Student-Athlete Development Coordinator, said. "He went above and beyond planning for both his plan A of being a professional athlete and his plan B of a professional career in Real Estate. He took advantage by joining our Aztec Mentor Program, and excelled in our Aztecs Going Pro class by building his network, resulting in multiple job offers while also receiving a MLS contract. We are very proud of his resilience and commitment to the university, Aztecs Going Pro, and the soccer program. Congratulations Koa!"