Merced High School 

205 West Olive Avenue, Merced CA 95344 * (209) 325-1000 * Fax (209) 385-6568

Kurt Kollmann​ ​ Jannette McAuley,​ Associate Principal

Principal ​James Schuller,​ Associate
Principal
​Joe Sebastian,​ Associate Principal
​Christopher Tufts,​ Associate
Principal

To Whom It May Concern: May 14, 2019

It is my pleasure to write this letter of recommendation on behalf of Joshua Thao. As a student teacher
for Merced High School and recent graduate of UC Merced, I have had the chance to work with many
students. Joshua in particular stands out due to his strong work ethic and mature manner which rivals
that of many of my college peers. Joshua has consistently demonstrated his intellectual ability and
commitment to bettering his education in my Forensic Science class. This class requires students to
think critically about college-level material, frequently collaborate with other classmates, and apply
several domains of science such as chemistry and physiology to evidence and the legal system. Joshua
has proven to be an integral part of our positive classroom environment because he holds himself, and
others, to high standards and expectations.

Throughout his high school career Joshua has shown he is responsible, respectful, and reliable. For
example, Joshua joins any team he is part of with a positive and welcoming attitude. Joshua has taken it
upon himself to be a leader in not just class work but also in his behavior. Joshua is always respectful
and shows kindness when he interacts with his classmates and teachers. While these are all outstanding
qualities, what stands out most about Joshua is his desire to give back to his community. He has
volunteered at Camp Green Meadows as an educational leader to teach 6th grade students about the
environment at Yosemite National Park. Joshua has courageously committed to joining the Marine
Corps after high school, which further shows his selflessness and dedicated nature to make our country
safer. These aspects of Joshua only give a window of insight to his varying abilities yet still show his
full and promising potential.

Joshua’s intellectual ability, work ethic, interpersonal skills, and sincere nature will serve him extremely
well for a position in any field. As a result, I recommend Joshua to you without reservation. If you need
any additional information, feel free to contact me at 916-208-5634 or by email at afontana@mushd.org
anytime.

Sincerely,

Alessandra Fontana
Science Student Teacher
Merced High School