By Kyle Arechiga

The Data Science Club recently welcomed alumni guest speaker Milan Butani, a sales engineer at Google and former data Analyst for Modern Animal, a Veterinary clinic. Butani holds a bachelor’s degree in Data Science from UC Berkeley and a Master degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He offered valuable insight into the field of data science and its growing influence in today’s technological world. 

Butani’s presentation was more than just a lecture, he actively engaged with Data Science members by thoughtfully responding to their questions and even posing his own to spark deeper discussion. To make the session more interactive and rewarding the students with Google merchandise such as pens, notebooks, t-shirts, and hats for students to take home. 

Using his real-world examples, Butani demonstrated how Structured Query Language (SQL) is applied in the field, especially for data visualization and analysis. He recommended using pgexercises.com in order to sharpen students’ skills. 

“This meeting was amazing,” club advisor and World Languages teacher Patricia Jimenez said. “Every single chair was filled, and we even had new students who had not previously attended meetings attend.” 

Butani’s visit left a lasting impression, even on seasoned members of the club. The event also highlighted the club’s growing impact on the school community. Through events like these, students are not just learning how to use programming to analyze data but also building connections with industry professionals who offer real-world insights into the often rapidly evolving technological landscape. 

In the future, the club plans to continue offering enriching experiences such as this one. They plan to bring in more guest speakers and host interactive workshops to further engage students in the data science field.

 “They constantly ask me when Milan is coming again, and those who missed it tell me they can’t wait for the next time he comes back,” Jimenez said.