August 4, 2007 SUBJECT: Recommendation of Grant Heileman I first met Grant one year ago at La Cueva High School

where he was my student in AP PhysicsB. I was La Cuevas AP Physics Teacher and Science Department Head. AP Physics-B is a rigorous college-level class typically taken by non-engineering majors that surveys all of physics, including Mechanics, E&M, Fluids & Thermodynamics, Waves & Optics, and Atomic & Nuclear. It is equivalent to Physics 151/152L at UNM. Grant was an excellent student and earned an A as a semester grade. However, he was different than most of my students in that he not only enjoyed reading our physics book, he could retain and apply what he had read. I was constantly surprised and gratified to see Grant grasp such difficult concepts, and to so much faster than many of my 153 other AP physics students. Grant was an excellent participant in class, consistently focused, and on-task. He enjoyed being in class and enjoyed his newfound knowledge as evidenced by his attitude and level of participation. Our physics lab seated students in groups of four, where he was a focused investigator. When doing lab activities he di more than just follow step-by-step directions; he went as far as to read the entire lab and gain an understanding of what we were trying to accomplish before beginning the experiment. This is a level of maturity rarely seen in high school physics students. As teachers have 183 contact days with students, I had many opportunities to observe Grants social interactions with other students. He is a warm, personable individual who got along well with everyone in my class. His interaction with others was always caring and friendly. Based on my observations, he is easy to get along with, and easy to work with. As of June 2007, I am no longer a teacher but rather I am pursuing full time graduate studies at UNM, working towards a doctorate in Electrical & Computer Engineering. During this summer term I have been working in the Plasma & Fusion Science Lab. Grant also worked in this lab for much of the summer, and worked with me on several projects. He was personal yet respectful with the professors and graduate students. When given a task, he immediately started and often worked for hours without a break. He is talented mechanically, as he very quickly designed and built mounting systems and other mechanical constructs. Grant is recognized for his athletic abilities when skateboarding or snowboarding. I have seen a short video of him and can attest to his skill and coordination. We have also performed physical tasks in the lab, such as installation work above the hanging ceiling or moving very heavy equipment, and I observe Grant to be in excellent physical condition. As a previous AP physics teacher and a department head I taught top students at our school. As an MIT graduate I have a good feeling for what constitutes strong intellect and work ethic. I have worked with Grant on nearly a daily basis for a year. He is a talented and gifted individual. He has the academic, athletic, and personal qualities to excel in a challenging environment. I recommend him with the greatest possible enthusiasm. Very truly yours,

Rich Compeau Rcompeau@ece.unm.edu 505-270-2858