10 Within 10 Recognition
Scott George '08, ’11
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College: College of Business Administration
Major: Sports Administration
Current job: Manager of university engagement for Unified Champion Schools, supporting the 52 Special Olympics state programs at colleges and universities.
Current city: Washington, D.C.
What has been your coolest moment since graduation?
I was able to attend the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games in Seattle and see the impact Special Olympics Unified Sports is having. It was the first national game I attended, and meeting partners and athletes from all over who were so similar to those in Mount Pleasant was great. This spring, I attended and worked the 2019 Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
What advice would you give new graduates?
Pursue experiences you love, and enjoy your career. There can be a lot of pressure as you enter that next stage in life, and it can be challenging to avoid getting caught up in the stresses and activities of life. Figure out what experiences fill your bucket, and make sure you have opportunities to experience those as a part of your job. This will hopefully lead you to a career full of purpose and joy.
What has your work life taught you?
Be yourself, and be genuine towards others. That's something I learned from my teammates during my time at CMU and something I learn from every interaction I have with a Special Olympics athlete.
What about CMU helped you succeed?
The social and emotional learning experiences I had outside of the classroom. The faculty and staff members who had the biggest impact were the ones who pushed me to participate in extracurricular work and activities, whether it was intramural sports, student organizations, or internships and employment. I spent so much more time in the Student Activity Center than I did in my apartment that I felt like I should have been paying rent to URec. But those are the times when you're interacting with people and building relationships, and that is so much of what my career has been to this point.
10 years of 10 within 10 - 2023 update
Current city and state: Sterling, VA
Current job title and employer: Senior Manager - University Engagement, Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools
What is happening in your life today that you didn't expect when you were named one of the 10 within 10?
I received my recognition the fall before the pandemic so a lot happened that was unexpected. I think the lasting impact in my life and work has been seeing the resiliency of college students across the country to stay committed towards the inclusion of others - as our Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools programming at the college level persisted and grew during such a challenging time. People were outwardly caring and thinking of others needs during a time when life was uncertain and unfamiliar, and it would have been very understandable for people to become self-focused.
When you think of CMU today, what word comes to mind?
Hope.