Alexa Queenie Tagaban

9026 W State Ave

Glendale, AZ 85305
(213) 952-8023
alexa.bioscience@gmail.com

August 28, 2013

Ashley Schimke
Farm to School Program Specialist
Arizona Department of Education
1535 West Jefferson St Bin #7
Phoenix, AZ 85007

Dear Ashley,

My name is Alexa Queenie Tagaban, and I am currently a senior at Bioscience High
School. I am interested in working with the farm to school program that you are trying to start at
Bioscience. I am part of the student body that, unfortunately, pays for lunch every day. The
quality and taste in our cafeteria food has not progressed over the years and is very disappointing.
I strive to make a change under this program and hopefully make the food in our school better.
Ive been a part of the local food movement in school since freshman year. For our group
project in our health class, we were tasked with creating our own version of a lunch menu for a
month. It was our goal to use the best quality food possible that is nutritious at the cheapest price.
Weve had many great ideas in that class for that project, however when we tried to set a meeting
with the district, we werent granted the opportunity. I would like to have that chance again for
actual implementation.
I was also a part of the local food/health group for my end of the year project during my
sophomore year. My group and I strived to spread the word about local food, and thought of
ideas to promote the farmers market downtown. It was a lot of fun, and it was something new
that challenged me to think outside the box. We were careful with our planning, and talked to a
lot of people that plays a huge role in the local food movement. However, the downtown farmers
market closed down, so we didnt have the chance to implement our ideas. Hopefully, with the
farm to school program Ill be able to do something like this again.
This is my last year at Bioscience, and my teachers have talked about leaving legacies
behind and being remembered. I would like to be remembered through your program and I hope
you will consider my application.

Sincerely,
Alexa Queenie Tagaban