A Letter From my Mentor

I am placing a copy of one of the accompanying Letters of Recommendation I submitted. I want to give credit to an important mentor in my educational career...

James Moes has been a teacher and mentor to me since I began my educational journey at Maple Woods. He inspired me to pursue a business degree, encompassing an incredible ability to teach and even more incredible, the ability to make students want to learn. I owe much thanks to Mr. Moes for all he has done, but especially the following recommendation letter that without a doubt helped me win the scholarship. Thanks Jim, and "Cheers"!

Letter of Recommendation

Dear Scholarship Committee:

It is with great pleasure to write this scholarship support letter for Ms. Valerie Eckart, a former student at Maple Woods Community College and a current student at Park University . I have known Ms. Eckart for three years in my capacity as assistant professor and director of the Business Program at MCC – Maple Woods. In addition, I am serving as her mentor for Park University ’s honors program for three (03) semesters overseeing her research on the importance of Microlending in the World Market Place.

In this context, I wish to place on record the consistently brilliant academic performance of Ms. Eckart during her two years of study within the business program at Maple Woods Community College .

I can confidently say that 100% of her class work was consistently ranked among the best carried out within the business department and within the Metropolitan Community College (MCC) system. For example, students complete a marketing plan in Principles of Marketing – Ms. Eckart’s plan was ranked #1 out of 420 plans evaluated that year within the MCC system. In addition, Ms. Eckart was the only Business Law I student to earn a 100% on an exam that covered contract law at the junior college level. Ms. Eckart’s class work was of such high quality; I used her work as a benchmark/grading standard to compare other students’ work. Ms. Eckart clearly demonstrated the motivation, intellect, enthusiasm and analytical aptitude for further undergraduate and graduate studies.

Her persistence to constantly do well in whatever task at hand was clearly demonstrated by her visiting with me during office hours, submitting as many as two – three rough drafts and following-up on exam questions that she may have missed. Her behavior as indicated in the sentences above showed a clear commitment to academic excellence in and out of the classroom. In addition, it also demonstrated her consistent discipline, energy and enthusiasm to learn as much as possible so she would be well prepared for Park University ’s International Business program.

Ms. Eckart not only studied rigorously, but her emotional intelligence and personal characteristics (honesty, integrity, trust, dedication, and work-life balance) are what made
her an excellent role model to other Maple Woods students and I am positive to Park University business students as well.

Without a doubt, Ms. Eckart is one of the brightest students I have taught during my ten-year teaching career. I can confidently state that Ms. Eckart’s academic performance ranked her in the top 1% and this includes two year and four year level students. Her 1% ranking earned her the first ever-National Collegiate Business Merit Award at Maple Woods, member of the Honors program at Park University and a Trustee Scholarship.

One of Ms. Eckart’s greatest intellectual assets is a trait known as ‘inference.’ She is able to form conjectures and hypotheses, while considering other relevant information and then using that information to educe statements and alternatives. This skill set will serve her well in an international business, analytical, financial, law and/or management role. Ms. Eckart’s goal to earn a Bachelor of International Business will be an easy task because she already possess the skill set that business schools require of students, such as intelligence, theoretical practice and application, proposition and synthesis, conceptual analysis, research aptitude, problem solving, ethics, alternative dispute resolution, cultural understanding and team work.

This letter of recommendation could continue for several pages because she has made a positive difference in the Maple Woods academic classroom setting, in my teaching career and in personal life. Ms. Eckart is a young lady yearning for a challenge, while at the same time focusing on her career goal to earn a Bachelor of International Business within the next two years. In my professional opinion, Ms. Eckart carries the academic and personal traits that I believe any college student and employee should possess - intelligence, integrity, persistence, follow through, compassion, tenacity and most of all, a caring attitude. I am confident Ms. Eckart will carry these traits with her throughout her life.

In closing, I’d like to say with a great degree of assurance that Ms. Eckart will serve as an excellent role model in any scholarship name she earns. I have told Ms. Eckart many times over that I hope to have 100 more students like her in all of my classes. Ms. Eckart is a true gem and will succeed in whatever endeavor she chooses.

If I could be of further assistance, please contact me at...

Best Regards,




James R. Moes, MBA , MA , BA, AIB
Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship & Marketing