Vanessa Smith of Brooklyn Center has been selected as a spring semester Outstanding Student at Metropolitan State University.
Smith graduates summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in urban education and is chosen Outstanding Student for the university’s School of Urban Education. She is one of 1,079 students graduating in the spring semester. Metropolitan State’s 104th commencement exercises take place April 27, 2019, at the Minneapolis Convention Center to confer bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees.
Smith attended Augsburg University and Minneapolis Community and Technical College before enrolling at Metropolitan State University. She works with Minneapolis Public Schools at Anishinabe Academy. She is also very active in the Native American community.
“Vanessa’s commitment to urban students/youth, schools, communities and families is clear to me on many levels. Her hours of service and culturally specific knowledge indicate a purpose with a focus,” explains Dr. Yvonne RB-Banks, Smith’s advisor and nominator. “She is always professional in her demeanor, responsible in her actions and guided in her next steps.”
Each fall and spring semester, colleges at Metropolitan State nominate students for the Outstanding Student and Outstanding Graduate Student awards. Nominees are evaluated on the basis of their academic performance in their degree program, as well as achievements in their community and professional contributions. All finalists are recognized in the commencement program, outstanding students receive special recognition during commencement, and are eligible to speak at commencement.
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.