Why I Give
Will Sugarman BS ’15
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Young alumnus and Sentinel Society member Will Sugarman BS ’15 worked on co-op at Microsoft while he was an undergraduate computer engineering student at RIT. Although he eagerly acknowledges that this professional experience is responsible for propelling him into his dream career, it’s the sense of community at RIT that he, like so many other alumni and students, credits as his favorite aspect of attending the university.
“Only after graduating did I fully appreciate just how accepting the RIT community is and how I could express myself within it. It is no surprise that I met so many of my life-long friends there,” says Will.
These connections from RIT continue to resonate and make a meaningful impact on Will’s life. Now living in Seattle, Wash. for eight years and working for Microsoft, Will keeps in touch with his RIT friends, classmates, other alumni, and even faculty members from nearly a decade ago. He recently attended a regional dinner hosted by RIT that brought together local alums to learn critical updates about the university in a festive and inviting social setting.
Will shares that engagement opportunities like the regional dinner are one important facet of why he feels linked to his alma mater. It also helped inspire his recent Sentinel Society membership.
“RIT is the foundation of so many parts of my life. It was my co-op that brought me to both Seattle and Microsoft in the first place. I met so many wonderful students and faculty at RIT during my time there. I hope my Sentinel gift can help provide the same amazing opportunities and connections for students that I had, especially with assisting those needing help covering the costs of their education.”
At Microsoft, Will and his colleagues work to innovate the healthcare industry by helping move data to the cloud for security and scale while also enabling machine learning workflows on Azure.
“I enjoy using the skills I learned at RIT to make a positive difference in the world,” Will comments.
When not at work, Will explores the art and cultural scenes in the Pacific Northwest. He frequents Seattle Mariners baseball games and museums, and enjoys spending time with friends.