Pando was one of about 40,000 entrepreneurs to have pitched to the investors on "Shark Tank," as reported by Cincinnati Magazine.

The money will help kickstart location expansion for Makers Social. She started the crafty cocktail bar in Columbus, but with the recent investment Pando hopes to secure space to expand to Cincinnati and beyond.

A true Bearcat for life, Pando studied fine arts at UC's College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) with a minor in entrepreneurship from UC's Carl H. Lindner College of Business. She cited her time at UC - and specifically UC's nationally recognized cooperative education (co-op) program - as a major influence on her business.

"One amazing thing DAAP and the College of Business did for me was push me outside my comfort zone," Pando said. Her experience at UC included three co-ops that helped her realize what kind of working environments she thrived in and what mattered to her the most in her career.

Pando (second from left) got to attend brand events while co-oping at Pacsun. Photo/Meg Pando

Her favorite was the shortest one, but left a lasting impact: A three-week experience with major clothing retailer Pacsun at their Orange County, California, headquarters while they were ramping up for the holiday shopping season. As part of the holiday preparations, her team helped plan popular American singer and songwriter Snoop Dogg's Christmas party, which Pando described as "the icing on the cake."

The cool, chill atmosphere of the office pulled her in immediately. The open, collaborative workspace reminded her of the workspaces at DAAP.

"Their headquarters is just like you would imagine: There were skateboarding ramps and ping-pong tables everywhere. The environment was just amazing," said Pando. "It was such a cool co-op experience."

Pando said the whole process, from earning the opportunity to actually working there, was one of her favorite collegiate experiences. She earned her Pacsun co-op through a company contest: By earning the most sales through her campus ambassadorship and creating a video documenting her efforts, she won the opportunity to work with the marketing team that fall.

"I've always thrived in spaces where you learn through hands-on work," she said. "That was really inspiring to see an office that wasn't just cubicles."

• $94 million-plus in collective self-reported earnings.
• 8,300-plus students from disciplines across the university participate.
• $11,220 average co-op salary per student per semester.
• 1,700-plus employer partners participate in co-op.
• Top 5 program in the nation (U.S. News & World Report).