1. 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