LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION

To the Admissions Committee:

As I write this letter, I am keenly aware that you will receive many such letters from many hopeful candidates. I struggle with the daunting task of presenting an exceptional young man in the simple and limited form of a letter. You have for your review his standardized test scores and his transcripts, yet you lack the inside only time  and experience provide in understanding this student’s rarity and gifts. Please understand that though I write many letters for students, they were only two in his graduating class that I sought out the opportunity of this privilege. Brad is an extremely impressive young man with any endowments in the classroom, on the athletic field, in the community and most important in his integrity.

Brad first became my student in his Junior year of study when he sought to undertake an academically rigorous course in Ethics. This elective has met the stringent UC standards for academic excellence and demands honors standing as a prerequisite. Brad was the consummate student. He was consistently attentive and driven in his work. He pursued the highest mastery and achievement throughout the course. The course begins with a semester of intensive study in the field of philosophical ethics and is followed by an additional semester study of moral theology. Both semester employ collegiate level tests and utilize aggressive assessment requiring critical analysis during in-class discussions and written work. Formal essays were the primary assessment tool; these obligatory papers averages sixteen typed pages every four weeks. Brad was consistently engaging in discussions and his written work evidenced depth of thought and expression. He excelled in elite company.

It was not just Brad’s academic performance that set him apart. It was often the context of his achievements that truly demonstrated his greatness. While Brad elected to seek higher academic growth, he did so while simultaneously excelling in a demanding (often consuming ) varsity sport. Football at our school is a life onto it’s own, that regularly demands all other commitments relegate to second place. Brad is a gifted athlete and as such felt the pressure to place football first. However Brad had to make a tremendously difficult choice his junior year. Brad found himself needing an afternoon to finish one of the formal papers for the Ethics class, this necessitated his missing practice. Brad went on his own to see the head coach in order to notify the team of his impending time off. Needless to say this was not greeted with warmth and Brad had to choose between his performances academically and athletically. Brad accepted the penalty of sitting out that week’s game so that his academic standing would not falter. He came to the head coach on his own and did not retreat from his values in the face of tremendous pressure. His stand became public knowledge before the day was out and his willingness to face the very adult decision on his own carried him the respect of many of us. I know the pain that Brad experienced in sitting out that game, but his resolve to do what was truly important was a powerful message that day. We often refer to boys at this age as young men in polite deference, some even deserve the acknowledgment of their growth. I believe on that day Brad became a man in his own right. Brad is an incredible candidate for your community. I can only hope that his one example of his character can open you to the uncanny potential this young man offers and will fulfill.

Brad is an exceptional human being with integrity that others can only speak of yet rarely bring to fruition. He is a natural leader for others sense his power that comes from deep within him. Brad is driven to excellence for its own sake and not for superficial accolades. I recommend him to you with the  surest of confidence and the greatest of pride.

Sincerely,

Katy V. Levalle, Instructor io Ethics