By Alexa Kraker
Metropolitan State University
A Minneapolis resident has been selected a fall semester Outstanding Graduate Student at Metropolitan State University.
Anna Lehn is one of 11 Metropolitan State students who were recognized at the President’s Outstanding Student Award Reception on Dec. 5, 2020. President’s Outstanding Student Award recipients are nominated by their professors and advisers and selected based on their academic excellence, community service, academic innovation in the educational program and professional achievement.
Lehn graduates with a Master of Science in Urban Education and was chosen Outstanding Graduate Student in the university’s School of Urban Education. She is one of 1,258 students receiving bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees at Metropolitan State’s 107th commencement exercises, which will be celebrated with an online ceremony on December 12, 2020. Lehn has also been selected to be a commencement speaker, addressing graduates from the College of Liberal Arts, College of Sciences, College of Management and the School of Liberal Arts.
Lehn chose Metropolitan State University for the Urban Education program, which prepares teachers to to serve students of diverse and minority backgrounds. Lehn completed the program’s English as a Secondary Language and Secondary Education tracks. She appreciated learning alongside classmates who were active in education and the experiences and lessons they had to offer, as well as the numerous professors who are also graduates of the program and currently teaching in urban schools.
“Taking on a full course load of three—four graduate school classes per semester while teaching full-time as an early-career teacher was no joke. It didn't feel impossible but was intimidating. In the end I wouldn't have it any other way because I was able to immediately apply the frameworks and strategies I was learning in my classroom, often in the same week,” Lehn says. “As an early-career teacher building curriculum I was hungry for ideas, so my Metro State classes funneled best practices in my classroom, and I was able to quickly consolidate and try out what I was learning. I gained more from the experience this way.”
Lehn currently teaches English Language Arts in the Minneapolis Public Schools system and plans to continue there after graduating. She plans to pursue additional teaching licensure with Metropolitan State in K-12 English as a Second Language to better teach multilingual students, and K-12 French teaching license. She is also considering a doctorate in education to continue research on translanguaging.
Lehn resides with her fiancé in Minneapolis. She grew up in Rosemount, Minnesota. Lehn completed her undergraduate degree in English at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. When not working or studying, she enjoys yoga, cooking, reading, and walking in the rain. Lehn also enjoys learning languages and wants to learn Arabic. This summer, Lehn hopes to start a garden, hike, and take road trips.
Metropolitan State University, a member of Minnesota State, is the Twin Cities’ public, urban, comprehensive state university providing lifelong learning and competitive academic and professional degree programs at the bachelor, master and doctoral levels.