2021 Urban Immersion Fellowship Program

LETTER OF COMMENDATION

Dear Kelsey Calton:

You are commended for your successful completion of the Michigan State University (MSU) Urban Immersion
Fellowship Program. Your commitment to urban education and quality instruction for Detroit students is
exemplary. As an MSU Urban Immersion Fellow, you have been an integral part of a collaborative effort between
MSU’s College of Education, the Detroit Public Schools Community District, and various non-profit agencies
serving children, youth, and families. This initiative, supported by MSU’s College of Education and The Skillman
Foundation, is designed to recruit, train, and retain highly qualified educators and leaders for urban school settings.

As an educational leader in higher education, MSU’s College of Education is committed to the preparation of
outstanding prospective teachers, particularly urban teachers, who will provide educational leadership for an
increasingly diverse student population. Providing the necessary knowledge, skills, and support is particularly
important for those teachers who enter urban schools. In these urban settings, students require—and deserve—
the best-prepared teachers to enable them to fully realize their educational goals. Your selection to participate in
the MSU Urban Immersion Fellowship Program was highly competitive. Your completion of this rigorous seven-
week Fellowship confirms our belief that you possess the essential qualities to excel and meet the multiple
challenges of urban public education.

You are among a distinguished group of future graduates, having undergone experiences that will further your
role as an advocate for quality education for urban school students. The challenges inherent in this goal are
profound, and your commitment demonstrates your readiness to pursue this path. Congratulations on your
accomplishments; we encourage you to continue to strive for excellence in your future endeavors.

Sincerely,

Sonya Gunnings-Moton, Ph.D.

Associate Dean for Urban Partnerships
Director, Urban Immersion Fellowship Program
Michigan State University
College of Education