Even with a family, and a full-time job one Missouri Western student is making history at the university to be the first student to pass two actuarial exams before graduation.

Western said Actuaries use mathematics, statistics and financial theory to assess risk. They calculate rates and dividends, and provide other statistical information for insurance companies.

Ian Watson, a native of British Columbia and a St. Joseph resident has already passed two exams while not only being a full-time student but also working full-time at Triumph Foods.  Watson also has a wife, two daughters and a son on the way.

“I have my mother-in-law and my father-in-law who help out as much as they can.  They watch my children when they can.  I have a very supportive wife who helps me out throughout the process,” Watson said.  “I work at Triumph Foods and they have even been very supportive. I used to be a production supervisor there and when I told them that I wanted to…I turned in my letter of resignation and I wanted to go back to school they were completely supportive and they said ‘okay’ and let me go to maintenance.”

Dr. Steve Klassen, Western Associate Professor of Mathematics said it’s the first time a Western student has passed two exams before graduation.

“At Missouri Western it’s very rare,” Klassen said. “We don’t have an actual actuary degree program and so students have to find a way to work that into their schedule.  I offer independent studies to assist students studying for those exams but they have to balance the studying for those actuary exams along with their usual studies and their other classes and to do that takes a fair amount of self-discipline.”

After he graduates from Western this spring, Watson said he hopes to land a job in the state of Missouri because his wife has a lot of family here in the St. Joseph area.  He said he has already had several interviews.

Missouri Western plans to feature Watson in its upcoming Missouri Western magazine in the spring edition which will come out in early May.