- E s t a b l i s h e d 1 8 9 5 -

Merced High School

“ H o m e o f S c h o l a r s a n d C h a m p i o n s ”

205 West Olive Avenue, Merced CA 95348 (209) 385-6465

To whom it may concern,
It is with great pleasure that I am writing this letter of recommendation for Nathan Herrera. In the past
few years, I have taught Nathan in Art, in which he has excelled. Based on my experience with Nathan, I can
say without the shadow of a doubt that he is one of the most naturally talented and hard-working art students
with whom I have had the opportunity to work with. He is exceptionally well prepared to move onto the
collegiate level, and it is clear to me that he has a very bright future in the creative arts if he chooses to go in
that direction.
Nathan is very mature for his age and he approaches his art with an astute sense of objectivity. He
processes constructive criticism well and is always willing to go the extra mile in order to take his work to the
highest level of formal and conceptual refinement. Nathan has a very methodical creative process; he develops
his concepts thoughtfully, creates interesting exploratory sketches before he commits himself to finishing the
piece. His skills of craftsmanship are highly developed and he has an incredibly astute attention to detail. In
addition, I have been impressed by Nathan’s ability to couple his attention to detail with a broader stylistic
focus that allows him to consider how effectively his compositions function as a whole. All in all, Nathan is an
incredibly well-rounded art student who has found a way to balance all of the aspects of the creative process
with apparent ease.
Aside from Nathan’s artistic ability, it is important to touch on his work ethic and his presence in the
classroom setting. Nathan never settles for second best and he utilizes class time in a productive and determined
manner. He arrives to class early and works late when the need arises. Due to this approach, Nathan quickly
became a role model for his peers. Students observed Nathan’s commitment to the creative process and they
strived to excel as he does. Nathan is a humble young man who never lets his abilities go to his head. He thrives
off of the entire creative process both the successes and the challenges. Most importantly, Nathan is always
willing to help his classmates as they create. He offers both technical and conceptual support to his peers in a
kind and caring manner that speaks to Nathan’s patience and his understanding of the importance of
collaborative learning.
Nathan is a trustworthy, reliable, good-humored student who supports others in and out of the
classroom. He was a pleasure to have in class, and his positive attitude and belief in himself, even in the face of
difficulty, is an immensely admirable asset. I'm confident that he will continue to demonstrate the same
diligence, perseverance, and optimism that he showed myself and his peers. He is an exceptional candidate and
it is with the utmost confidence that I recommend him. Please do not hesitate to contact me if further questions
arise.
Sincerely,
Del Camara M.F.A.
dcamara@muhsd.org
Merced High School Art Department

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