Two UC A&S grads make 40 under 40 list
By Monica Huzinec
Every year, the Cincinnati Business Courier publishes a “Forty Under 40” list recognizing young professionals in the Greater Cincinnati area who are not only successful in their careers, but also take the time to give back to their communities.
This year, University of Cincinnati McMicken College of Arts and Sciences alumni Shannon Yung and Elliott Stapleton were recognized for their continued success and service.
Shannon Yung
Alumna Shannon Yung graduated from UC in 2002 with a degree in mathematics. She is now the individual giving manager at ProKids.
Yung had a unique experience at UC. She never lived in the dorms, which often provide incoming students with a ready source of instant friends.
From the start, she had to be extra outgoing to form the relationships and bonds that are a crucial part of the college experience.
“I think those challenges are part of why it’s easy for me to walk into most rooms and find someone to connect with, why I don’t have a problem striking up conversations with strangers and why I have no trouble navigating unfamiliar waters. These are crucial pieces to building relationships with my current role,” she said.
As the giving manager at ProKids, Yung is responsible for talking with donors about the mission of the organization – to advocate for a safe, nurturing and permanent home for youth in the foster care system.
“I’ve been a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer for about three years now and that firsthand experience working with our kids makes it easy for me to communicate to donors how important and effective our work is,” she said.
In addition to her work, Yung currently serves as the membership chairwoman for Impact 100, a women’s collective giving network that was able to award four $109,000 grants to area nonprofits this year.
She also supports the CityLink Center, ProKids and Villedge which are all local nonprofits focused on serving our community in a variety of ways.
Elliott Stapleton
Elliott Stapleton graduated from UC in 2004 with a degree in political science. Stapleton now has his dream job – as a partner at Cornetet, Meyer, Rush and Stapleton law firm.
“I’ve always enjoyed helping people solve complex problems and have a particularly strong ability to recall legal standards. Arts & Sciences and the Political Science department provided an excellent foundation for critical thinking and analysis of complex issues,” Stapleton said.
Stapleton is still connected to the university though his undergraduate fraternity where he serves as a member of the alumni board and as chairman of the housing committee. Additionally, he is on the board of Cancer Family Care and Gem of the Highlands 5k, both of which are Cincinnati-based nonprofits.
For new students at UC, Stapleton has some advice.
“Find great professors and take as many of their courses as possible," he said. "Second to great professors is finding a solid organization on campus. The connections created with the current, past, and future members of your organization will significantly improve your ability to be successful in your career path after graduation.”
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