Shannon didn’t join the Rams cheerleading squad just for the chance to dance. She’s also a diehard NFL fan.

“I love football,” says Shannon, a St. Louis native. “And we get the best seats in the house.”

She’s in her fourth season as a cheerleader, and recently landed a master’s degree in media/communications and marketing from Webster University. Shannon says juggling work, school and cheerleading was a rocky road for a while, but she finished her degree in August 2007 and now is looking forward to having free time to spend with family, friends and her two cats, Indie and Jackson.

Fast forward to her day job, and you’ll find Shannon working as an assistant for the Canadian sales team at Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s corporate office in Clayton. “It’s an administrative role,” she says. “I provide support for a group of managers who travel to Canada often. I wear a lot of hats.”

Further up the road, Shannon sees herself taking on increased responsibilities at Enterprise, preferably in advertising or marketing. She’d also like to earn a teaching certificate and pass on her knowledge to high school or college students.

Shannon has been dancing since she was a little girl, taking on jazz, tap and tumbling at an early age. She was part of the pom squad at Pattonville High School, and performed choreography work for her undergrad sorority, Alpha Delta Pi, at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

When she’s relaxing at home in St. Louis, Shannon loves to cook and fire up the barbecue. “I like fish, but I prefer vegetables to meat,” she says. “They’re healthier.” She also loves to shop, tan by the pool and go to dance clubs with friends.

Shannon once spent a summer backpacking through western Europe, taking in the scenic sights of Spain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Ireland. “My goals are to buy a house here in St. Louis, and travel at least every three months,” she says. “I’m not a quitter—I stick to my guns. If I plan something, it happens.”