April 5, 2018

To whom it may concern:

This letter of recommendation is written on behalf of Jose Rodriguez, junior, Foshay Learning Center,
LAUSD, by myself, Michael Laska, teacher. Foshay Learning Center is located in South Los Angeles, just
west of USC, serving mostly working class, low income, first generation college-going students and
families. I have been a mathematics teacher here at Foshay Learning Center for 29 years and now serve
as the MYP International Baccalaureate Coordinator. I am also the Leadership teacher.

I have known Jose since the 8th grade. He has been my student twice. He attended my Summer Bridge
class after his 8th grade year, my Honors Algebra 2 class in 10th grade, and he is will take my SAT Prep
class this summer.

Jose is an outstanding young man and an incredibly hard-working student. He has been in the
Neighborhood Academic Initiative (NAI) since the 6th grade. He has devoted countless Saturdays to NAI
and the Saturday School Program as well as every summer since the 8th grade. As a NAI scholar, he has
worked tremendously hard to achieve his goal of going to college. As a Foshay junior, he exemplifies the
outstanding characteristics needed to enter the college of his dreams. Jose has always dreamed of
attending USC. He has taken several AP courses and will be taking AP Calculus and AP English
Literature next year. He currently maintains a 3.9 GPA. He is a member of the Engineering and
Technology Academies. He is also very active in FIRST Robotics since the 9th grade. He has been a
member of the Foshay Students Run LA program as well as participating on the swimming and soccer
teams. He has completed an internship with the California Science Center this past summer. He is the
most personable and charming young man.

I am incredibly proud of Jose and what he has accomplished so far. I, without hesitation, recommend
him. He is enthusiastic, talented, and principled. He will achieve his hopes and dreams and more. It has
been a pleasure to know him and to be his teacher in two different classes. I am looking forward to
teaching him again this summer.

Please do not hesitate to contact me for any further information. I can be reached at
mlaska@lausd.net.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Michael Laska
Teacher, Foshay Learning Center
LAUSD