1. Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Engineering Technology Center  Room Q-128  MD 9075  1100 South Marietta Parkway  Marietta, GA
30060-2896
Phone: 678-915-3060  Fax: 678-915-6820  www.kennesaw.edu
15 March 2016
RE: Letter of Recommendation for E. Scott Martin
To Whom it May Concern,
As an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, it is my great pleasure to write a
Letter of Reference for Scott Martin. He is attempting to find full-time employment as
he nears graduation, earning his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from
Kennesaw State University’s Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering &
Engineering Technology. It should be noted that this is his second college degree as he
entered the ME program already having earned a Pre-Professional Biology degree from
the University of West Georgia.
In 17 years of teaching, Scott is one of the best students that I have ever had the pleasure of
knowing! As such, in addition to having Scott as a student and advisee, I also invited
him to act as both my research assistant and my teaching assistant. Below I will
elaborate on my experiences with Scott in all of the following roles: student, research
assistant, teaching assistant, and advisee.
E. Scott Martin: Mechanical Engineering Student
I have had Scott as a student in two different classes: SYE 3320, Engineering Economics
& Decision Making; and ME 1001, Introduction to Mechanical Engineering. Scott is very
attentive in class, asks insightful questions and completes very professional work.
ME 1001 included a team project building a trebuchet to launch pumpkins during the
Annual Pumpkin Launch at SPSU. Scott was a definite leader to his team. I observed
that he worked longer and harder than most of his teammates. Their team designed
and fabricated a trebuchet that met the goal of launching a 10-12 pound pumpkin a
distance of 30 meters. His teammates consistently gave him very high reviews with
regarding his contribution to their ultimate success.
E. Scott Martin: Research Assistant
Scott began working with my on my research in Summer 2015. Considering that
summer he was taking very difficult classes, working co-op, and got married, I was
very impressed by his work ethic when he volunteered to help me analyze data. We

2. Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Engineering Technology Center  Room Q-128  MD 9075  1100 South Marietta Parkway  Marietta, GA
30060-2896
Phone: 678-915-3060  Fax: 678-915-6820  www.kennesaw.edu
worked on research related to hair pulling in athletics and the force transmitted through
the hair to the player scalp and neck. He continued working with me, this time taking it
for credit, in Fall 2015 and Spring 2016. He is co-author on a paper that will be
presented at NCUR (the National Council on Undergraduate Research) in April, 2016.
He also helped me create a two-page technical abstract on the design and testing of a
damage-control orthopedic clamp. It will be presented in a conference on biomedical
devices.
As a research assistant, as in other areas, Scott is enthusiastic and dependable. He has good
ideas and is never afraid of hard work. He is particularly good at bouncing ideas back and forth
– great teamwork skills – and I trust his opinion.
E. Scott Martin: Teaching Assistant
Scott served as a Student Teaching Assistant during Fall 2015 and Spring 2016
semesters. As such, he graded the weekly homework assignments of a total of five
sections of ME 1001, Introduction to Mechanical Engineering. In addition to grading, he
almost always wrote enthusiastic and inspiring little notes to the students, and he has
positively influenced nearly 200 students! I take my teaching and my student interaction
very seriously, and I couldn’t have a better ambassador to the students than Scott!
E. Scott Martin: Advisee
I have very much enjoyed my role as Scott’s Faculty Advisor. Together we planned his
rigorous academic schedule as he progressed through the ME curriculum, and after this
semester he has just three classes and a lab to complete.
Additionally I have been told that he performed exceptionally well during his three co-
operative education work experiences. He was even nominated as the 2014 SPSU Co-op
Student of the Year!
Advice to Potential Employers
I think that Scott would be an incredibly good asset to your company. He is hard
working, easy to speak with, he takes direction and is obviously very smart. On a
personal note, Scott is also personable, kind, mature and modest. The students, faculty
and staff alike are all very fond of him here at KSU.

3. Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Engineering Technology Center  Room Q-128  MD 9075  1100 South Marietta Parkway  Marietta, GA
30060-2896
Phone: 678-915-3060  Fax: 678-915-6820  www.kennesaw.edu
I cannot imagine a candidate, male or female, better suited for an engineering position
at your company.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Most Sincerely,
Dr. Laura Ruhala
Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering & Engineering Technology
Kennesaw State University
812-589-2982
lruhala@kennesaw.edu