UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA [BERKELEY # DAVIS IRVINE © LOS ANGELES e MERCED « RIVERSIDE SAN DIEGO « SAN FRANCISC UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, MERCED GATEWAY SCHOLARS CENTER FOR EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS $80 EAST SHAW AVENUE, SUITE 108 FRESNO, CALIFORNIA 93710-7712 February 15,2017 ‘To Whom It May Concern: 1 am writing this letter of recommendation on behalf of Rafael Chavez, a senior at Merced High School Iam the Gateway Scholars Program Coordinator and began working with students at MHS in November 2015. The Gateway Scholars Program is an academic outreach program that promotes and provides access to higher education through academic counseling, higher education workshops, and visits to university/college campuses. Rafael joined Gateway Scholars the moment he learned there was a new academic outreach program at his campus. His sister, a student within the UC system, assisted him in fully understanding how in- depth the application process was going to be and he wanted to ensure he utilized every opportunity so that his application was a true reflection of who he was a student and young individual. He was the first to turn his permission packet in for the summer program, had 100% attendance, and was an integral part in unifying the students of Gateway. His peers view him as a true friend, someone that any peer can go to for guidance, whether it is academic or social. We meet regularly to discuss applications that he has in progress and each time he is organized, meticulous, and focused in getting his questions answered and completing follow up items in a timely manner. As his senior year is commencing, he is focused on his academic courses and setting an example as an upperclassman. We have had many conversations involving the responsibility all students share to show younger class men how to be successful in high school, Rafael has carried that virtue as long as I have worked with him. If given scholarship consideration, I foresee Rafael utilizing every dollar granted to ensure he is succesfful at his university. We have had many conversations about student life as it exists on a university campus, and he has already researched student orgs that can assist him in understanding how extra- curricular involvement can combine with opportunities within his major. Rafael is a young man on the cusp of greatness. He is wholeheartedly prepared for whatever situations await him. He has the foresight, the drive, and self-advocacy that will make him successful at any campus he attends. If you have any questions regarding Rafael, please feel free to contact me at any time at (359) 241-7476 or at pzarco@uemerced.edu, Regards, Pirie (wre0 Patricia Zarco Gateway Scholars Program Coordinator UC Merced Center for Educational Partnerships | Merced High School