A mechanical engineering alumnus has been named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for his rise from intern to principal at a venture capital firm in less than five years, where he has deployed more than $150 million to support U.S. startups as they expand internationally.

Spencer Foust graduated in 2014 with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Arkansas. He also holds a master's degree in management science from Stanford University. His work as a principal at Sozo Ventures, a San Francisco-based firm, is focused on helping category-leading startups in the U.S. expand internationally.

Foust credited his time at the University of Arkansas for setting him on a path to success.

"The U of A had a huge impact on what kinds of opportunities I was able to access," he said. "But the biggest impact came from the faculty and staff that were at the school to dedicate time and support on everything from internships, to job and graduate applications, to understanding career paths."

He said although he isn't working as a mechanical engineer, he's still putting the skills he learned at the University of Arkansas to good use.

"As an investor, the skill I use most from my engineering degree is the ability to learn the basics on a new subject quickly, and to ask the right questions to expedite that learning," he said.

Foust urged today's students to maximize their time in school.

"Take advantage of unique opportunities that are present in your life — they are what will set you apart from others in the years ahead," he said. "While at the U of A or other schools, you have a unique calling card to access incredible resources and people that diminishes once you leave school and step into a career."

While at the University of Arkansas, Foust was a student in the Honors College and served in leadership roles in the student chapters of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society and the American Society of Mechanical Engineering.