By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Sixteen Willamette University student-athletes who are in their fourth year or fifth year of attending college are working toward degrees at the Atkinson Graduate School of Management. Most are participating in Willamette's 3/2 MBA program in which students earn a bachelor's degree and a Master of Business Administration in five years. Some are completing a more traditional two-year MBA postgraduate plan, while one is following a two-year plan for a master's degree in Data Science.

Several of the student-athletes are on Willamette athletic teams this year, or will be on a team again next year, as the result of an NCAA waiver due to COVID-19. The waiver applies to student-athletes who were members of college teams in the spring of 2020, who weren't able to complete the regular season due to COVID restrictions.

Women's tennis player Alyssa Oberg (Sr., Roseville, CA/Oakmont HS), who is in the first year of the Data Science program, and baseball player Mason Cook (Sr., RHP, Riverton, UT/Riverton HS), who is in the fifth year of the 3/2 MBA program, said they are using the COVID-19 waiver this year. Alexis Schwartz (Jr./So., Ontario, OR/Ontario HS) from women's golf and Michael Herington (Sr., DB, Tucson, AZ/Salpointe Catholic HS) from football said they plan to use the COVID-19 waiver to compete in 2021-22.

"I was already enrolled as a Data Science student before I contacted Head Coach Rick Wood about possibly coming back this year, so while the waiver wasn't really a factor in that decision, it is a great benefit," Oberg said.

"I am using the NCAA waiver for an extra season assuming restrictions lift and we will be permitted to play in the spring," Cook commented. "The waiver did not impact my decision to pursue the MBA program because I had already begun the program and was committed to it before the cancellation of the 2020 season."

Student-athletes have a variety of reasons for choosing to continue their education at the Atkinson. For some, it has been a natural fit with their academic and career interests.

"I feel like I have always been a business-minded person, so choosing the 3/2 MBA program was a no-brainer for me," Schwartz said. "With the very supportive faculty and a lot of determination, I was able to finish all of the undergrad classes I needed in my first three years."

"Willamette University is the fourth college I've attended," said Ryan Whithorn (Jr., 3B, Claremont, CA/The Webb School/Chaffey College) from the baseball team. "I've bounced around due to baseball. My goal has always been to earn a degree in business."

"The 3/2 program was actually a big reason I came to Willamette," said football player Brayden Mills (Sr., TE, Woodinville, WA/Inglemoor HS). "I knew that I wanted to have an advantage on others in the job market, and the 3/2 program is a fantastic way to do that."

"I chose the Willamette Data Science master's program because data science has a lot of applications for various fields of work and study," women's tennis player Alyssa Oberg (Sr., Roseville, CA/Oakmont HS) said. "While I was working in Professor Rosa Leon Zayas' lab I had to use Terminal and Unix to analyze the genomic data that was collected by Professor Leon Zayas and her colleagues, and that made me realize that have training in Data Science would be extremely beneficial for the type of work I want to do."

Many of the student-athletes have been impressed by the professors who teach in the various MBA and Data Science programs.

"What I love about Willamette's MBA program is the faculty," Herington commented. "They are all very kind and very accessible whenever you have questions regarding their classes. Another thing that I like about the program is how well they prepare you for work in the future. They do this through a class dedicated to the practical application of what we have learned. We practice writing cover letters, resumes, and participating in simulations."

"Willamette's smaller class size and the professors' willingness to help and bond with students is really unique and something that was integral to my success as an undergraduate student," Oberg said.

"I like how small the program is," Whithorn asserted. "It is really personal and easy to navigate through different peers and professors. It's tough with distance learning, but I really appreciate the efforts from everyone involved. It shows they care."

The professors encourage hands-on experiences such as consulting projects and internships that can relate directly to future employment.

"I love all the tangible skills that we are learning," Mills said. "Everything feels applicable. It really is an intense program, but there's so much to get out of it and so many doors that open through the program. I have nothing but good things to say about it."

"The thing I like most about the MBA program is the preparation for the real world," Bryant added. "It's more of a work and professional environment where you can build your skills as a high-level individual within a company/organization. While it is rigorous, it helps set you apart in the workforce."

There are additional reasons student-athletes choose to attend Atkinson, from the reputation of the graduate school to the recommendation of other student-athletes.

"It's the #1 MBA program in Oregon," said baseball player Joey Faudskar (Grad., OF, Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle HS), who is back for his fifth year of baseball through the COVID-19 waiver. "So far it has been insightful, challenging, and educational."

"I always knew the 3/2 was an attractive program, but I wasn't aware of all the benefits it offered until I talked to many of my teammates who were going through Atkinson," football player Miles Bryant (Sr., TE, Pasadena, CA/Bishop Alemany HS) said. "They were really the people who influenced me to join the MBA school and take advantage of my time here at Willamette."

The 3/2 program also has the benefit of allowing students to complete a bachelor's degree and an MBA in five years. And they can attend Willamette for all five years and don't have to adjust to a different university to pursue a master's degree.

"What really got my attention was the ability to earn your MBA in just five years," Herington said. "It is truly an amazing degree that opens up many doors for you after graduation."

"Majoring in Economics as an undergrad led me to want to supplement that with a more business-oriented degree in the MBA," Cook noted. "The programs complemented each other well and an additional year of school was a small price to pay for a higher degree and higher earning potential."