Alyssa Pfluger
January 10, 2013
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing this letter to recommend Alyssa Pfluger for an position at your company. She is bright, friendly, and incredibly hard working, and I am sure she will do a wonderful job.
I have known Alyssa since August of 2013, when she signed up for my Principles of Microeconomics course. During the first day of class, I mentioned that there may be private tutors available for students who need extra help. That week, Alyssa came to see me during my office hours to see whether a tutor would be a good fit. I was surprised to get such a request so early in the semester, especially from a student who was clearly motivated and organized. When I asked her why she thought she needed one, Alyssa, mentioned she has been home schooled and was not as familiar with multiple choice questions as other students. This impressed me greatly. Most of the time, students in my Principles courses wait until they get a bad grade before they ask for extra help. Even then, many do not have the self-awareness to identify specific type of help they need.
While I did set Alyssa up with a tutor, it was very much her individual performance, work, and attitude that impressed me during the semester. It was very clear to me that Alyssa kept up with the material. She would see me during my office hours if any of my homework questions were unclear, and she would always check with me to ensure she was up to date with the relevant reading. In my seven years teaching, I have probably only come across a dozen students who were so clearly prepared for class.
Alyssa ended up getting the third highest score in a very high performing class, easily earning an A. I have no doubt she understood all of the material, and I have a feeling she will remember it as well. In fact, she did so well, I am now recommending her as a tutor for the course.
While Alyssa’s academic performance has been impressive, the thing that really sets her apart, in my opinion, is her initiative. She clearly wants to get the most of her academic career at Valparaiso, and she approaches everything she does with enthusiasm, excitement, and respect. I have no doubt she will approach an internship with the same attitude. Please feel free to contact me with any questions. I can be reached at 219-464-5118 or at Sara.Bothun@valpo.edu.
Regards,
Sara (Bothun) Gundersen
Assistant Professor of Economics
Valparaiso University