A Minneapolis resident has been selected a fall semester Outstanding Student at Metropolitan State University.
Avraham Aharoni 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.
Aharoni graduates magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Individualized Studies and was chosen Outstanding Student in the university’s College of Individualized Studies. He 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 Dec. 12, 2020. Aharoni has also been selected to be a commencement speaker, addressing graduates from the College of Community Studies and Public Affairs, College of Individualized Studies and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
“My goal from the get-go was to be able and utilize all that Metropolitan State offered,” Aharoni explains. With his already-hectic schedule, he knew that he wanted to be in control of his university experience and Metropolitan State’s College of Individualized Studies gave him that opportunity awarding him academic credits based his life and professional experience. “When I learned I could create my school schedule around other aspects of my life and have it be flexible through online courses, I became a bigger fan,” Aharoni says.
Metropolitan State University is challenging. Aharoni worked full-time and cultivated his theater career even as he kept at his schoolwork. “Online courses force you to stay on track, otherwise you could be left in the dust, and having that sort of pressure can be difficult for anyone. Just finding the time to make money, make theater, do school, and still have time for myself became a tricky balance some semesters,” he says. Nevertheless, he accomplished his goal in 2 ½ years.
“Everyone at Metro understands that students have lives outside of school, and that small understanding makes a huge difference,” he says.
Aharoni was born and raised in Minneapolis. He is a 2009 graduate of Robbinsdale Cooper High School in New Hope, Minnesota. He attended Normandale Community College for a time. After many years of traveling during his 20s, he now lives in northeast Minneapolis. He is also active as a theater actor and enjoys working with children, traveling, writing, working out, playing ukulele, and cooking.
He is currently considering is employment options following graduation and may apply to a graduate program.
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.