6$2 Merced High School P.O, Box 2167: Merced. Cali 95344 (209) 385-6466 Home of Scholars and Champions Joseph Gaestel 205 West Olive Ave Merced, Ca. 95348 April 18, 2016 Dear selection committee: This letter of recommendation is for Christian Gutierrez. I have been teaching since 1998 at both the secondary and college levels and only on a few occasions have | had the privilege of instructing a really gifted student. Christian is one of those students. He is a real joy to teach. Chris has a real thirst for learning and the desire to achieve. His effort in my computer classes has shown me he has the ability to think critically and understand complex issues both inside and outside of the classroom. | have known Chris since his freshman year. | have had him in two of my computer classes over the last few years and he has always been very focused and enthusiastic about his career goals. As long as | have known him he has been passionate about his future in computer science and engineering. Christian is a phenomenal problem solver. There was no software or hardware problem that he could not fix. | find his logic and thinking skills exceptional. | highly recommend Christian Gutierrez to be selected for this program. Sincerely, soph Castel Joseph Gaestel Business and Technology Education Department Chair Merced High School Home of Scholars and Champions?