Omri Hadad 

From Soldier to Architect

A Journey of Dedication, Resilience, and Leadership

A Jewish Israeli Leader

As a proud Jewish Israeli, I am deeply committed to my heritage and culture. I strive to be a positive role model, I advocate for my community, and I take pride in representing these values as I pursue my academic and professional goals.

Former Officer in IDF Special Ops

Prior to arriving at Pratt Institute, I served as an officer in the most elite special ops unit in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). My six years in the service helped me develop leadership skills, a strategic outlook and ultimately demanded resilience – and much of it. These shaped my worldview and my approach to problem-solving.

October 7th – The Day That Changed Everything

The recent conflict in Israel impacted me profoundly. On October 7th, I fought in Be’eri and in the Re’im Military Base. Throughout the war that ensued, I participated in battles in multiple locations across Gaza. These experiences shaped who I am today: I have witnessed sacrifice and I had to demonstrate commitment and resolve in extreme, impossible situations. These events continue to inspire my work and my academic pursuits, and will ideally lead me to contribute to my community in my civilian profession as I did in the military.

College Soccer Team Captain

I am a student athlete at Pratt Institute, captaining the men’s NCAA DIII soccer team.
I was the first Pratt player to have ever been chosen as the weekly MVP by the Atlantic East Conference.
Acting as a bridge between communities, I brought both Pratt men’s and women’s teams to one of my lectures on October 7th at a Jewish institution in Brooklyn, where they heard my own personal story and got a sense of what it is like to be an Israeli during wartime.*

Empowering the Vulnerable

Before joining the army, I volunteered for a year of service in Israel – part of the Shnat Sherut program, aimed at supporting some of the most vulnerable populations. I spent half my time as a counselor in Israel’s only juvenile detention center, helping at-risk youth find hope and direction. I spent the other half with Ethiopian immigrants in one of Netanya’s impoverished neighborhoods, supporting efforts to bridge social and cultural gaps, and to empower and create opportunities for integration.

Rescue Mission in Peru

I used the brief few months following my honorable discharge from the IDF and before commencing my studies at Pratt to backpack in South America. While in Peru, I was called to join a rescue mission launched after an Israeli hiker who went missing in the Cordillera Blanca mountain range. I went first, to spearhead the effort. I couldn’t leave a fellow Israeli behind, not after October 7th. I coordinated the mission’s setup and assembled a local team until the official Israeli Magnus Rescue Team arrived.

Supporting My Dream to Become an Architect

I have accumulated life experiences, overcame heart wrenching adversity and accomplished success. Yet, as an independent student, I am faced with the pressing challenge of covering my tuition. Pratt Institute has generously awarded me a 33% international scholarship, but I still need to raise $184,000 to cover the remaining costs of my education over the next four years.

I am committed to pursuing my dream of becoming an architect, and I am humbly reaching out to ask for your support. Any contribution will have a real impact on my ability to continue my education and fulfill my potential. My ambition is to return to Israel after I graduate to contribute to national recovery and construction efforts. I hope to make a meaningful impact, combining my military, community, and architectural knowledge.

The funds from this campaign will be collected and processed through a nonprofit organization called The Israel Bridge, which exists to support Israeli college student-athletes. This partnership ensures that your donation is transferred tax-free and used directly to help me continue my education.

Your support will eventually not only help me, but will in turn enable me to give back to my community and contribute to a better future through my work in architecture.

*Invite me to speak to your community about October 7th, Israel today and my personal experience. I do not charge for engagements with the community.