Dear AmeriCorps Acceptance Committee,

I have had the pleasure of working with Jake during the 2014-2015 school year at Denver Academy and I recommend him without hesitation for an AmeriCorps position. I got to know Jake because he was a student in my senior photography class. He is an extremely creative individual with a unique perspective that always shows up in his artwork. Jake loves working independently and has an extraordinary amount of energy. He produced some extremely professional, high quality photographs in that class.

I got to know Jake on a more personal level during Denver Academy’s four-day experiential education trip to Moab in March. As the only senior in a group of twelve high school and middle school students, he took on a leadership position right away. Jake used his sense of humor to create relationships with the other students and help ease the socially awkward situation of being packed into a van with eleven other students who did not know each other for a six-hour ride from Denver to Utah. He also set an excellent example of how to be polite and respectful of me, a teacher who most of them had only met in passing. He was essential in establishing a safe environment for the trip.

Throughout our time together, Jake helped me manage the students, some who have been diagnosed with a variety of challenges such as ADHD and Asperger’s Syndrome. He always knew the right questions to ask and was able to help comfort them when they were feeling overwhelmed. Jake was confident in sharing his own story which really helped the other students open up and get to know each other on a deeper level. This made the trip an enriching experience for everyone.

I have always known Jake to be on time and excited about his work, whatever that may be. I am confident that he would bring the same positive energy to your program. In doing so, he would benefit by gaining some perspective and experience that can help him further mature and make effective decisions about where his future might take him.

Please contact me if you need more information.

Sincerely,

Kathleen Booton

Arts and Media Faculty

Denver Academy