1. 280 Toomey Hall • 400 W. 13th St. • Rolla, MO 65409-0500
Phone: 573-341-6073 • Fax: 573-341-6899 • Email: sheffld@mst.edu • Web: www.mst.edu
An equal opportunity institution
24 April 2010
RE: Letter of Reference for Edward Anculle Arauco
To Whom It May Concern:
It is my sincere honor to submit this letter of reference for Edward Anculle Arauco, an international Peruvian graduate
student. Edward has served as one of my graduate research assistants from June 2008 through May 2010 at Missouri
University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T).
I have witnessed of his professional development as a mechanical engineering graduate student in the Department of
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Missouri S&T. Edward successfully defended this month his Master thesis
entitled Integration and characterization of a Electrical Storage System for a Fuel Cell Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle.
His research has focused on advanced vehicle technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells and advanced batteries as part
of the EcoCAR competition. EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge is a collegiate advanced vehicle technology competition
(AVTC). Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and General Motors (GM), as well as by Natural Resources
Canada and other industry leaders, EcoCAR challenges engineering students from universities across North America to
re-engineer a GM vehicle, minimizing energy consumption, emissions, and greenhouse gases while maintaining the
vehicle’s utility, safety, and performance. Missouri S&T is one of the only 16 universities in North America
participating in this challenge.
Edward successfully completed all his assigned engineering tasks. His primary duties included serving as the
mechanical team leader of Missouri S&T EcoCAR Team, where he has effectively interacted with numerous student
and faculty team members along with several professionals from General Motors and other competition sponsors.
I have no reservations giving my highest recommendations for Edward.
Best regards,
John W Sheffield
John W. Sheffield, Ph.D.
Professor of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
Subject Editor, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
Associate Director, CTIS National University Transportation Center
Missouri S&T EcoCAR Faculty Advisor