Sunny shah

Whether through acting, stand-up comedy or Emcee, Sunny has been exploring new ways to connect with an audience since childhood. He's given talks at schools, businesses conferences, and TEDx events on topics such as leadership, entrepreneurship, and mental health. Calling on ideas rooted in positive psychology and Eastern philosophies, he tells stories that people of all ages and backgrounds can relate to and takeaway applicable life lessons from. Sunny is a Duchossois Scholar who has received full ride scholarship at IIT and he was voted for graduation speaker at Illinois Math and Science Academy. He has won the best speaker award at a national Junior Statesmen of America convention.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1iOyvKhN5g

Illinois Math and Science High school Graduation Speaker voted by students in 2014.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZ4KykP1DGU

Tedx speaker at Illinois Tech 2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJZtgRigAD4

Sunny is a Chicago native recently graduated from Illinois Institute of Technology. His major is psychology, and his passion lies in communication. His proficiency

in writing, film, design, and public speaking has allowed him to communicate powerful messages for a variety of projects and organizations in the past.

Education

2018 Illinois Institute of Technology

B.S. Psychology

Duchossois Leadership Scholar | TEDxIIT Speaker

2014 Illinois Math and Science Academy

Focus on Leadership and Communications

Leadership Education Facilitator | Graduation Speaker

Employment

Self Employment in the Arts · Emcee and Keynote Speaker

Feb 2016 to Current

SEA is an annual 2 day conference in which over 500 students, artists, and

entrepreneurs gather to share in education and fun. I joined the SEA

Director and Advisory Board to help put together content and host the

conference as emcee and keynote speaker.

Exelon Institute · Communications Team Leader

Jun 2015 to Current

The Illinois Institute of Technology hosts a program for freshman to get

extra assistance adjusting to academic and social life as a college student. I lead a team of 3 student teachers that run communications classes for all 40 students. We teach through hands on activities, practicing communication through acting, debate, writing, public speaking, and more.

IIT Unfiltered, Campus News Show

As the founder and anchor, I led a team of 4 students in creating our university's first campus news show. I gained proficiency in nearly all aspects of the project, including script writing, directing, speaking, and editing. The show is intended to be comedic at times, however the primary

motive was to create a channel for important and relevant information to

better circulate campus. The goal of Episode 1 was to clarify issues

regarding campus security.

Activities

TEDxIIT Speaker

Apr 2015

I gave a talk titled, What's Your Problem, at the annual TEDxIIT conference

in Chicago. I discussed how teachers and students can employ an

entrepreneurial and problem-based mindset in order to enhance learning

opportunities in and out of the classroom. Watch it here.

Graduation Speaker, Illinois Math and Science Academy

May 2014

I was selected to deliver a speech at my high school graduation ceremony. I spoke on the topic of luck, and how to maintain a positive and humble mindset while moving forward in life. Watch it here.

Awards

Duchossois Leadership Scholarship

Full tuition Room and Board scholarship awarded for leadership and service

Aug 2014

I was one of two students to be named each year as a Duchossois Scholar.

Our group works to promote leadership education and service

opportunities for IIT and our local community.

First Place at Chicago Tech week Hackathon.