March 30, 2015 Dear Colleagues: As a longstanding member of the PSA, I am very pleased to write this letter of recommendation for Samantha Rhodes, who is applying for the UT Professional Staff Association Scholarship for the 2015-2016 academic year. I first met Samantha in the spring of 2013 when she enrolled in my Visual Communication course at The University of Toledo. From minute one, it was clear that Samantha was an extraordinary student. Media agile and tech savvy, Samantha adapted to new environments and challenges with both speed and ease, and was able to integrate concept and aesthetic in way that was bold, engaging, and stalwart in its attention to detail. A dedicated and creative student, Samantha’s work and interpersonal skills were consistently exemplary. She always showed great initiative and diligence during class, and approached new learning opportunities with enthusiasm, focus, and a deep, thoughtful inquiry. In this setting, she demonstrated admirable leadership skills, and her attitude toward faculty and fellow peers was supportive, constructive, and professional. I could always count on her to listen attentively, participate eagerly, and elevate the quality of our learning experiences in class. In short, she was the ideal student and a natural leader. Since the fall of 2013, I have also had the privilege of observing Samantha’s strong work ethic and natural leadership skills in various editorial and managerial roles at the Independent Collegian. Confident, mature, and diplomatic, Samantha has not shied away from complex challenges: she has skillfully and elegantly helped the paper and the organization to right itself during an extraordinary year of transition, and has instilled the budding student leaders in this organization with an air of determination and drive that will last well beyond her tenure. I am confident that Samantha will use her education and experiences at UT to make lasting and meaningful contributions to the communities in which she learns, serves, and leads. Her impressive academic achievements and active engagement with the University community exemplify the hallmarks of leadership within our own ranks. For these many reasons, I feel that Samantha is a most worthy candidate for this prestigious scholarship, and am honored to recommend her for this opportunity without hesitation. If you have any questions regarding Samantha’s character, abilities, or achievements, please contact me. Sincerely, Phoebe J. Ballard, M.Ed. Sr. Instructional Designer and Coor. for Special Projects, UT Learning Ventures Adjunct Instructor, College of Communication and the Arts Board Member, Collegian Media Foundation phoebe.ballard@utoledo.edu (419) 530-4379