WP Options Page Category Selection Drop-down Menu

<?php

if ( ! function_exists( 'aqkl_get_option' ) ) :
function aqkl_get_option( $option ) {
    global $aqkl_options;
    if( ! isset( $aqkl_options ) )
        $aqkl_options = get_option( 'aqkl_theme_options', aqkl_default_options() );
    return $aqkl_options[ $option ];
}
endif;

/* ================== STEP: 1 - default options ======================= */

if ( ! function_exists( 'aqkl_default_options' ) ) :
function aqkl_default_options() {
    $options = array(

        'featured_cat' => '',
    );
    return $options;

/* ================== STEP: 2 - Store categories in array ======================= */

$aqkl_categories[0] = array(
    'value' => 0,
    'label' => ''
);
$aqkl_cats = get_categories(); $i = 1;
foreach( $aqkl_cats as $aqkl_cat ) :
    $aqkl_categories[$aqkl_cat->cat_ID] = array(
        'value' => $aqkl_cat->cat_ID,
        'label' => $aqkl_cat->cat_name
    );
    $i++;
endforeach;

/* ================== STEP: 3 - Options ======================= */

function aqkl_category_settings_sections() {
    add_settings_section( 'aqkl_category_options_cb', __( 'Multple Categories Options', 'themename' ), 'aqkl_category_options_cb', 'aqkl_options_link' );
}

function aqkl_category_options_cb() {
    add_settings_field( 'aqkl_featured_category_options', __( 'Categories Option', 'themename' ), 'aqkl_featured_category_options', 'aqkl_options_link', 'aqkl_category_options_cb' );
}

function aqkl_featured_category_options() { ?>
    <select id="featured_cat" name="aqkl_theme_options[featured_cat]">
    <?php
    foreach ( $aqkl_categories as $category ) :
        $label = $category['label'];
        $selected = '';
        if ( $category['value'] == aqkl_get_option('featured_cat') )
            $selected = 'selected="selected"';
        echo '<option style="padding-right: 10px;" value="' . esc_attr( $category['value'] ) . '" ' . $selected . '>' . $label . '</option>';
    endforeach;
    ?>
    </select>
<?php
}

/* ================ STEP: 4 - Sanitize ================ */
function aqkl_validate_theme_options( $input ) {

    if ( isset( $input['submit-general'] ) ) {

        $prev = aqkl_get_option('featured_cat');
        // We verify if the given value exists in the categories array
        if ( !array_key_exists( $input['featured_cat'], $aqkl_categories ) )
        $input['featured_cat'] = $prev;
    }

    $input = wp_parse_args( $input, get_option( 'aqkl_theme_options', aqkl_default_options() ) );

    return $input;
}

?>