This letter is being written in support of the nomination of Leonard DeNardis for the Student PTA ACE award from Colorado APTA.  Leonard has been a strong, active member within the PTA program at PCC from the beginning.  He has actively participated in all club activities such as wheelchair donations to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, clothing and toy Christmas gift drive for the Posada homeless shelter, Thanksgiving baskets that were donated to needy Pueblo Community College students, Operation Christmas Child shoe box, Relay for Life fundraising and collecting items for the APTA PT-PAC silent auction fundraiser.  He has not only assisted with several campus-wide Student Senate activities, providing information about the physical therapy field and physical therapist assistants, but he also presented career information to an elementary school with several creative activities for the children to participate in.

            Leonard  DeNardis has been strong academically throughout his education in the PTA program, maintaining a 4.0 GPA. He is more than willing to share his knowledge and help his classmates in understanding concepts.  This is evident in that he became a tutor for his classmates in his second semester of the program and continued that through out the academic portion of the program.  He often times stayed late to tutor classmates and also came down to Pueblo from his home in Monument on days that class was not is session to tutor classmates.  If he did not live more than an hour away I am sure he would continue to tutor and I would not hesitate to hire him as a tutor. He is recognized for his organizational ability, to remain committed, focused, and retain and apply knowledge in many situations, he had been an active learner who has shown a strong motivation to learn, and making sure he understands the concepts of the material being presented.   He is dependable, flexible and a good team player.   Comments from classmates peer reviews state that he is very respectful, willing to learn, and professional in giving and receiving feedback from classmates and instructors. 

            Leonard excelled in his first clinical experience with his clinical instructor stating he is professional with staff and patients shows a willingness to not only learn but teach both staff and patients, has top notch employment skills and quoted as saying “probably the best student I ever had”. had”.

Leonard is a deserving candidate for this award. His motivation and commitment will be contributing factors as a physical therapist assistant and to the profession of physical therapy. He will continue to be an advocate for his clients and the profession of physical therapy.  I strongly encourage you to recognize his multifaceted strengths and award him with this recognition. Thank you for the opportunity to submit this letter of support for his nomination.  Therefore without reservation I nominate Mr. Leonard DeNardis for the Student PTA ACE award.

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