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After taking an AP statistics class in high school, Ronnie Schilling ’26 knew his future would always include math.

When he was applying to college, he had a mathematics major in mind. Once he got to UTampa, he met Khyam Paneru, director of the actuarial science department, and several students in the program, and decided to add actuarial science as an additional major.

“It combined my two interests,” he said, mentioning that while the additional study is rooted in math, it approaches it from a business perspective, using it to measure and manage financial risk.

On Saturday, Schilling will be one of nearly 2,000 UTampa students to take part in the University’s 162nd commencement at the Expo Hall at the Florida State Fairgrounds. And soon after, Schilling will join Equitable, a financial services company, in its actuarial professional development program in New York.

Schilling interned with the company last summer on the annuity model development team and was later extended a full-time offer.

As part of the professional development program, about every two years, the company will rotate him to a new department, he said. His first rotation will be in employee benefits pricing.

The program will also support Schilling as he studies for actuarial exams on his path to becoming a credentialed actuary.

During his time at UTampa, Schilling was involved in the actuarial science club, where he served on the executive board for three years (one year as president); the math club, where he was vice president for a year; Pi Mu Epsilon Math Honor Society, where he has been president for two years; the Center for Public Speaking, where he has been a tutor for two years; and a member of the student culinary council, which helps shape on campus dining.

Schilling credits John Sumner, a former faculty member in the mathematics department, for changing his educational trajectory. In calculus III with Sumner, during Schilling’s first year at UTampa, Sumner consistently reassured and supported him, which made Schilling feel confident in taking on a second major. The smaller class sizes at the University are important not only for developing meaningful relationships with faculty, but also for increased access to internship and career opportunities, Schilling said.

During his four years, he also felt supported by Leslie Jones, chair of the mathematics department, who he said has been a big supporter of his.

“She even emailed me over the summer to wish me luck on my actuarial exam, because she remembered from when I told her during the semester,” he said. “It was totally unexpected,” he added, noting the generosity he was shown from professors made a huge difference for him.