1. September 17, 2015
To Whom It May Concern:
It is my pleasure to write this letter of recommendation for Mike Pando. Despite my short
tenure in Valparaiso University, I had the opportunity to witness the tremendous growth
experienced by Mike in terms of his academic endeavor, his engineering and technical skills,
and his personal character over the past spring while he participated in the Senior Design
Project.
A little bit of background…. Due to the unusual scheduling of his plan of study, he was
inserted into the second semester of the Senior Design Class (which typically begins in the
fall and lasts for two semesters.) Without the benefits of the first semester to plan and
prepare for his design project, he was required immediately to pick up a former student’s
work and continue on to perform detailed and final stormwater management design for his
project. Adding to his challenge, his primary interest was in structural engineering and he
was taking Urban Hydrology concurrently with Senior Design at the time. Despite his lack
of prior class work, he was able to complete the required stormwater management design
for his project. What impressed me the most was his “can-do” spirit and his willingness to
take on challenges without hesitation. I am very proud of Mike and what he has achieved
last spring. Not only did I observe his vast improvement in engineering and technical skills,
I also saw his growth in personal integrity and character. He worked well with his
teammates and behaved professionally when team issues arose. I truly believe that he is on
the right path to become a professional engineer or whichever technical field he chooses to
pursue his career.
I will not hesitate to recommend Mike if you desire a diligent and conscientious young man
who is always eager to learn and take on challenges with the best of his ability.
Sincerely,
Jack T. P. Chan, Ph.D., P.E.
Visiting Assistant Professor
1900 Chapel Drive • Valparaiso, Indiana 46383-4516 valpo.edu/engineering • 219.464.5054 • engineering@valpo.edu

2. College of Engineering