1> Acknowledge their Contributions: Be specific about how the deceased person influenced your research. In the case in question (the link you posted in the comments), the acknowledgements section is explicitly indicated as "optional".The acknowledgement section of your dissertation is a special section to write. The purpose of letters of acknowledgment is to provide proof that you have received specific documents or a specific type of request. Hello. For an acknowledgment, the signer must personally appear before the Notary with the signed document to acknowledge the signature and be identified. So a little background. In high school I had no plans of doing anything with my life. The student thanks their teacher for guiding and supporting them throughout their project. Acknowledgements are one of those basic points. Dear Spellman Alumni and Friends, My prayers that all members of the Spellman Family remain healthy and safe.