You showed Thomas that there's strength in numbers

Thanks to you, Thomas Sato BS/MS’25 received the fnancial aid he needed to come to Willamette and study Data Science. Being close to home attracted Thomas to Willamette, and the distinctive 3+1 dual degree Data Science Program was right in line with his career dreams.

Now that he’s on campus, he’s involved in many activities, including as a tutor and member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity. It’s helped him see how important the help of others can be. “I think the motto kind of shines for me,” says Thomas. “At Willamette, I’ve learned that it’s OK to ask for help you might not want to ask for.”

Thomas helps students develop quantitative reasoning skills in the Center for Quantitative Understanding, Analysis, and Design (QUAD).

When classes require students to work on large projects, “a lot of people come to the center at once, and we all work on it together, which is a great thing,” Thomas added. Thomas also works embedded in classrooms, helping students troubleshoot any errors with their code, among other skills. He hopes to continue to tutor both in classes and at the center as he completes his dual degree.

“I thought Willamette was a really great place to get my bachelor’s and master’s degree in a short amount of time, and it has proved to be a great opportunity,” Thomas says. He especially enjoyed a project mapping out the top 20 Portland-area intersections with the highest number of reported car crashes.

Thomas believes the dual degree program will enhance his career prospects after college. “I think the master’s degree will give me a leg up in competition in terms of getting a career I would enjoy and feel fulflled in,” he says.

I thought Willamete was a really great place to get my bachelor’s and master’s degree in a short amount of time, and it has proved to be a great opportunity.