2016 Online High School Graduate Excels and Pushes Cultural Norms

A graduate of MTS Minnesota Connections Academy, Sarah Abdon certainly made the most of her high school years. Abdon was one of two seniors to speak at the K-12 online public school’s in-person graduation ceremony.

“Class of 2016, we are reinventing ourselves over and over again," Abdon said to her fellow graduates, family members, and school faculty. "We are changing the cultural norms; we are pushing beyond the limitations of life.”

Abdon is a passionate and curious student. "I had the opportunity to get to know Sarah during my time as her high school counselor," said Stephanie Becker, Manager of Counseling Services. "She's bright, energetic, compassionate and has a drive to be successful in all that she does. I am blown away by her passion for school and learning."

Abdon also impresses outside of her school day. "Sarah has been very involved in activities beyond her coursework; all of her efforts are truly amazing," added Becker. Dedicated and nterested in the health profession, Abdon regularly volunteered as a Biology Teacher Assistant during school and also volunteered in various roles at three metro-area hospitals prior to her senior year. To learn even more about the field, Abdon participated in multiple programs including Northwestern University's Civic Week: Community Health and Medicine where she spent spring break analyzing current Public Health trends and possible solutions to problems and also attended the University of Minnesota's Scrubs, Gloves and Microscopes. "Sarah is an amazing student who stops at nothing if it leads her in the direction of her future goals," Becker continued.

Abdon credits the flexibility of her online public school with her involvement in such a range of activities. “Without it, I don’t think I would have had time to invest myself in other things such as volunteering and robotics,” she says. Abdon was a member of Maple Grove Senior High's FIRST Robotics team (Team 2526: Crimson Robotics), her prior brick-and-mortar school. Abdon saw first-hand the impact science and engineering can have on students and also witnessed the gender disparity between women and science/engineering. She became determined to advocate for education and opportunities for girls and underrepresented students throughout her community to engage in STEM.

In 2016, Abdon was one of 15 statewide winners of the NCWIT Aspirations for Women in Computing Awards, an award that ultimately helped Abdon land a summer internship with an organization also committed to STEM.

"A dream job for a high school graduate," according to Abdon.

STEM Fuse was one of eight technology-related companies/organizations that offered NCWIT award recipients the opportunity to interview for a paid summer internship. With a very talented pool to choose from, the company selected Abdon who is now working full-time with staff to help develop new program curriculum. With offices in Minnesota and South Dakota, STEM Fuse is the brain child of founder/CEO Carter Tatge. The organization was founded with the simple goal of promoting and improving STEM education by developing high quality, easily taught STEM curricula.

Abdon will start at the University of Minnesota this fall, studying Global Studies at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities with a theme in Human Rights and Justice within South Asia. Committed to lifelong learning, her goal is to work in the field of Public Health, hoping to build schools throughout developing nations.

Enrollment for Minnesota Connections Academy's 2016-17 school year is underway and free Information Sessions — online and in-person — are currently being offered. For a complete schedule with dates and locations, visit http://www.MinnesotaConnectionsAcademy.com/Events.