May 12, 2017

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing in reference to Ms. Savannah Lacoste who has applied for a graduate program at
UMMC. For over two years Ms. Lacoste has been one of my students at the University of
Southern Mississippi. In addition to being her instructor, I have served as her advisor for the
Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies program, as well as being her advisor for the USM Honors
College. In this capacity I have served as her thesis advisor.

Ms. Lacoste is one of the top students at USM. As she prepares to graduate, she is the recipient
of numerous honors, including, but not limited to Latin Honors and membership in Alpha Iota
Sigma, the international honors society of the Association for Interdisciplinary Studies.

Her Honors thesis focused on Improving Nurse Physician Communication. It dealt with issues
that many a medical student does not even consider, until after graduating from Medical School.
Her IDS thesis dealt with the issue of communication between doctors who live in different
countries and speak different languages. It was selected for presentation at the Alpha Iota Sigma
recognition assembly, where it was enthusiastically received.

Both her IDS thesis and her honors thesis displayed a significant capacity for advanced research.
She has mastered the ability to organize her thoughts, critically analyze a subject, write in the
proper academic form and provide an oral defense of a thesis.

Ms. Lacoste is a person of strong moral character. She displays, not only a willingness to serve
the medical field, but also the requisite passion.

If she has a weakness it consists of not spending enough time attending to her own personal
needs. However, she is terrific at the pool table, and this does provide her with an outlet to
distress.

In my fifteen years at USM, I do not know of another student to whom I could give a higher
recommendation than Savannah Lacoste. UMMC would be very fortunate to have her as one of
its students.

Sincerely,

Allan W. Eickelmann

Allan W. Eickelmann, D.Min.

Instructor of Interdisciplinary Studies
The University of Southern Mississippi