Shivam Vakil is being recommended for the Geico Achievement Award Scholarship. Over the past two years, the recommender has observed Shivam excel in various roles as a student and leader. Shivam displays ambition, leadership skills, and strong character. He is driven to achieve his goals and takes initiative to map out his career path. As a leader, Shivam is responsible and adaptable, able to work well with others. He is known to help his peers and collect leftover food to donate to those in need. The recommender believes Shivam is among the top students he has encountered and will accomplish great things.

1. MEMORANDUM
TO: Geico Achievement Award Scholarship
DATE: January 21st, 2015
SUBJECT: Recommendation for ShivamVakil
It is an honor to provide a positive recommendation for Shivam Vakil in support of his endeavor
to be selected. Over the past two years, I have had the pleasure of working with Shivam in my
capacity as Instructor for Texas A&M’s Mays Business School Freshman Business Initiative
(FBI) and also as advisor of the Regents’ Ambassador Program. I have had the opportunity to
observe Shivam and see him excel in a variety of roles. One memorable encounter that I had
with Shivam was in Zambia last year. Shivam offered a cash some of money to anyone need.
As a first generation himself, it was truly refreshing to see him extend generosity. This is just
one dimension of the breadth and depth that characterize Shivam. Within the following, I will
comment and expand on Shivam’s ambition, leadership, and character with the purpose of
informing you why Shivam should be selected.

2. Ambition
My first experience with Shivam came during the fall of 2013. He was in my class that had a
little over two hundred students. In the class Shivam excelled. Though he did not speak
regularly, his contributions were always appropriate and insightful. I n a bid to seek greater
understanding of the business world and all stakeholders, Shivam joined the mainly female
Aggie Women in Business. It is clear that he had a desire to learn, not just for learnings’
sake. Shivam has taken the initiative to seek out my help in guiding him on mapping out his
career. He has a strong desire to have a career that is impactful.
Recognizing his tremendous energy and potential, I am willing to support Shivam and help his
meet his ambitious goals; however, I have seen many students with initial enthusiasm become
distracted while in college and never follow through. Not Shivam, he stays committed to his
vision and has never missed a step in completing his goals. Shivam has an amazing ability to set
priorities and has he self-discipline not to waiver from those priorities.
In the time that I have known Shivam, I have never had to contact him for a follow up or a
reminder. Instead, Shivam regularly follows up with me and has beaten any deadline that has
come.

3. Leadership
As an outstanding student in the university, he is an action-oriented leader, both in academics
and what Aggies refer to as the “other education,” which entails activities beyond the classroom.
Shivam is very responsible, taking into consideration his actions and how they affect those
involved. Over the course of time, Shivam is a transformational leader, one that has both the
moral authority and technical expertise necessary to succeed under all circumstances. Along with
these characteristics, he understands being a situational leader and knows how to handle things
no matter how unpredictable. I have listened to Shivam talk about his family in a way that
portrays vulnerability, love, and a desire to improve his immediate family. His ability to work
with others at a very deep and personal level attests to his adaptability.
Character
Along with being responsible and hardworking, Shivam possesses an unwavering moral
character. His integrity is seen in the alignment of his actions with his spoken commitments,
while his maturity is portrayed through his decision making process. He deliberately evaluates
the possible outcomes from the options he is considering and then not only chooses what is best
for his, but what is best for the situation and the right thing to do. Although there have been a
few times when Shivam has miscalculated, he is the first to take responsibility and right he
wrong.

4. Shivam is a very thoughtful person, always considerate of other people’s concerns. I have seen
him offer help to his peers. He has a kind heart and wants to help those in need. He has single
handedly taken the responsibility of collecting left over food at our meetings, for delivery to the
homeless. Other students have mentioned how Shivam, goes out of his way to show them
around and introduce them to their new environment. He is genuinely a good person and a model
example of character and respect.
In summary, it is important that you understand the full impression of Shivam’s numerous
qualities. He is driven and dedicated, capable of doing most anything he sets his mind to.
Pursuing excellence while considering others, Shivam has a unique ability to leave a positive and
lasting impact on everything in which he is involved.
He takes advantage of every opportunity provided and has been creative in developing new
opportunities for himself, attacking each prospect with such enthusiasm while remaining positive
no matter the outcome. Shivam maintains a methodical approach to analyzing his goals and
objectives and is extremely organized, yet remains open-minded to what can be discovered each
day. With such diverse interests, his quest for exploration into that which is new or different has
provided his with a wide array of experiences that will only strengthen his already solid
character.
As an educator at an institution of over 45,000 students, I have come into contact with thousands
of students in my years at Texas A&M. Shivam is definitely among the top students I have ever
had the opportunity to work with and I consider myself privileged to know his. As an
outstanding individual of incredible potential and direction, Shivam will accomplish great things
and will be an asset to your program.
Sincerely,
Dr. Henry Kasonde Musoma