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Honors students O'Carson Fils and Yuki Shao.

Honors Students O’Carson Fils and Yuki Shao Recognized Among Top 25 Under 25

In spring 2024, 25 students were handpicked from around 1,000 business students to receive the Muma College of Business’s 25 Under 25 Awards. Among the honorees were two standout Judy Genshaft Honors College seniors, O’Carson Fils and Yuki Shao. This award celebrates the achievements and impact of exceptional students in the 鶹Ƶ’s college for their commitment to positively impacting the campus and greater Tampa community while exemplifying leadership, community service, professional development, and scholarship. 

For both Fils and Shao, success wasn't exclusively a product of hard work but of pursuing their unique academic and extracurricular interests. Their respective experiences reflect the impact of being students in the Honors College and Muma College of Business, while also demonstrating how they shaped these communities in return. 

MUMA BOUND

Surprisingly, Fils wasn’t always a business student. Initially driven by the idea of developing treatments for age-related diseases, he started his USF journey as a biomedical engineering student. However, he soon realized he wanted to break into the field of medicine through business and technology. After exploring the Muma College of Business, he transitioned to major in business analytics and information systems. 

“I have loved being a business major so much. The College of Business provides so many resources that I feel I’ve taken advantage of. It was a really good change for me,” Fils shared.  

Headshot of Ocarson Fils

Now, he aspires to become an entrepreneur and startup founder, aiming to use his platform to impact medical innovation by investing in and empowering scientists. 

A first-generation college student, Shao's journey to the Muma College of Business was influenced by her family's entrepreneurial spirit. Initially enrolling as a management major, she was inspired by her father, who has successfully run his own restaurant for nearly twenty years. However, a passion for accounting was ignited by Professor Jennifer Cainas’ Principles of Financial Accounting class.

“I really liked the way she taught and that accounting concepts to me felt more like solving puzzles than work,” said Shao.  

It was then that Shao decided to change her major to pursue accounting as her future career path, adding:  

“The other accounting classes at USF Muma have been incredible for me. The professors there have really moved me.” 

Headshot of Yuki Shao

Intrigued by accounting, web design, coding, and art, Shao has tied all her interests and skills together to create a website to sell her artwork. 

Shao hopes to continue merging technology and art to help galleries and independent artists sell and promote their work. Inspired by her professors, she also aims to pursue a PhD to become an accounting professor. 

LEADERS AND INNOVATORS  

During his time at USF, Fils sought opportunities to grow himself as a student and leader. He served as a resident assistant, president of , a member of , a partner in the student startup Debut Labs, and a marketing analyst for the .  

According to Fils, his most invaluable leadership experience was rebuilding the Association for Information Systems.  

“I ended up feeling like this club needed to exist and I needed to do something. It is really important to have a club for your major,” said Fils. “I was alone at first and had to manage a team of eight to ten people. I had to learn how to deal with the pressure of being in the spotlight. I am really glad I did it because I am more comfortable as a leader.” 

Like Fils, Shao was highly involved on campus, serving as president of and on the executive boards of the and . She also had the opportunity to work as a teaching assistant for two upper-level courses. Typically the domain of graduate students, Shao jumped at the role and opportunity to gain experience as she helped teach her peers.  

“The teaching assistantship really developed the way I speak and conduct myself.” said Shao. “Being able to teach them and get to know the other students solidified my interest in becoming a professor later on.”

BEYOND BUSINESS 

For Shao and Fils, college wasn’t all about coursework and internships but also about finding balance to explore their interests.  

According to Fils, it took him a year or two to find his footing on campus. He was able to find organizations like the Delta Sigma Pi business fraternity and the Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization where he could connect with peers while pursuing his goals.  

“Since I want to be a startup founder, all of my interests eventually concentrated into learning more about business,” said Fils.  

“You definitely find yourself more along your college journey,” said Shao.  

Despite juggling school work and multiple jobs, Shao said she was intentional about making time to pursue interests beyond her major like art, writing, and pickleball.  

“Balance is huge in my world. The things that I am doing drive me. Instead of being things that I have to do, it’s things that I want to do,” she added. 

BRIGHT FUTURES AHEAD 

Since spring of 2024, Fils has been working as a technology analyst for Citi Bank. He credits this opportunity to an event at USF’s Bellini Center, where he met a recruiter from Citi and secured an internship during his undergraduate career. This internship ultimately led to a permanent job offer before he even graduated.  

Similarly, Shao gained valuable experience with her future employer, Ernst and Young, as a consulting and media relations intern. She will begin working full-time with Ernst and Young in the winter of 2025. 

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About Honors News

Committed to intellectual curiosity, global citizenship, and service across three unique Tampa Bay campuses, Honors News shares the exceptional stories of the Judy Genshaft Honors College.