SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

3/8/17

To Whom It May Concern:

It is with pleasure and excitement that I write to recommend, Matthias Stevens, for
available scholarships. I first met Matthias in the spring of 2014 when he was my
student in a lifespan development class. Matthias demonstrated himself to be a
conscientious student with high expectations for himself.

Matthias was consistently a leader in the classroom. His participation and questions
in class discussions suggested that he understood the content we were working with
and that he was making connections to real world experiences. The work that
Matthias produced for class assignments was exceptional in quality, further
demonstrating his abilities.

I had the opportunity to observe Matthias act as lead instructor in a classroom as part
of a field experience course. Matthias designed a thorough lesson plan that included
assessment and differentiation for his students. His attention to detail made a huge
difference in the lesson. His students were engaged and actively involved in learning,
thus minimizing classroom management issues. His caring approach and just-in-time
teaching methods will benefit his students well.

His professionalism extends beyond the classroom. Matthias is also a leader in

student organizations on campus and other organizations in the community. He
currently serves as the President for Kappa Delta Pi. KDP is an education honor
society which has academic and service requirements. Matthias has been a leader in
the group for multiple years now. He has also been active in the Association of Future
Educators which works closely with KDP. It is my observation that his leadership
style is appreciated by his peers, who frequently look to him for guidance on
procedures and planning events. Matthias actively involves himself in the
community and currently serves as Vice President for a local school board. Through
these endeavors, I have come to recognize Matthias as a leader of his peers in the
School of Education, as well as in the Ferris community and beyond.
With Sincerity,

Vanessa L. Wyss, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

School of Education - Teacher Education

1349 Cramer Circle, Bishop 421
Big Rapids, MI 49307-2737

Phone: (231) 591-5361

Fax: (231) 591-2043
Web: www.ferris.edu