With a strong mathematics, statistics and computer science core, the BSc degree in Data Science is one of the most challenging programmes offered at SPU.
As the only University on the African continent that offers an undergraduate Data Science degree, it is therefore an exceptional achievement to be the top performing student in any given year.
Yule Thomas, a Kimberlite, walked away with the award for the Best Student in BSc Data Science at the 2019 graduation ceremony held in December 2019.
When asked to take us on his journey that led him to this accomplishment, he recalls “I always say that my first year at SPU was my most challenging year and as I progressed through the course, the more challenging it became”.
The difficult transition from high school to university life, was further exacerbated by the massive increase in his workload, he says that the only way he was going to succeed was to keep in his sights the vision of obtaining this degree.
He admits that “there were times when I would be studying and I would think to myself that this is the most difficult thing I have ever done. However, like most difficult things in life I knew I would get through this.”
“I constantly kept seeing my goal and continued working hard” he said. “I literally studied day and night”. He also believes that without his parents’ support, love and their constant reassurance that he will make it, he would have not been able to obtain his degree.
Thomas encourages the youth at SPU to maintain their focus, to visualise their success and to finish off what they started. He says that it won’t be easy, but it will be worth it in the end.
SPU wishes Yule Thomas all the best in his future endeavours and we are proud to have him as an alumnus of SPU.
For more information about SPU’s BSc degree in Data Science, click here.
