Outstanding business student takes next step
A few years ago, James Shilts decided he wanted to move up in his career and enrolled in the University of Houston-Victoria to earn his bachelor's degree. Now, he is preparing to graduate and kick his career into high gear.
“I had already started to move up in my career, and I thought a degree would help my advancement go faster,” he said. “My time at UHV has been great. I was able to do my academics online so I could continue to work full time and be there for my family.”
Shilts of Sugar Land was named the UHV College of Business Outstanding Undergraduate Student for the fall 2023 semester. He will graduate on Dec. 16 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in management. The Outstanding Graduate Student is Thu Ngo Anh Le of Vietnam, who will receive a Master of Business Administration in finance.
Each semester, professors from UHV’s four colleges select outstanding students to be honored during commencement. The university will host two fall commencement ceremonies on Dec. 16 at the Leonard E. Merrell Center, 6301 S. Stadium Lane in Katy. The first ceremony begins at 9 a.m. to celebrate graduates from the College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences and College of Natural & Applied Science. The second ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. to celebrate the graduates from the College of Business and College of Education & Health Professions. A live stream of the ceremonies will be available at www.uhv.edu/commencement/commencement-ceremony.
“The UHV College of Business is proud of these outstanding students and the hard work they have put into earning their degrees,” said Rhiannon Smith, assistant dean of administration and student services in the business college. “We are excited to see their next steps in the coming years, and we wish them well as they move forward in life and their careers.”
Shilts is the district manager for Yamaha Motor Company. He oversees about 150 dealerships in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi that sell and service jetboats, outboard units and watercraft. He also is married and has two children.
During his time at UHV, Shilts said he learned the importance of resources when running a business, especially when it comes to having the knowledge to help find necessary resources. That lesson is one that he applies to many different areas of his life, not just in business.
“Knowing how to access resources is one of the most important things you can do to be successful in business and in life,” he said. “Whether you need information or physical assets, knowing where to find and how to get those resources can give you an edge.”
Shilts said he also enjoyed learning about several subjects, including mathematics and data analytics as well as strategic marketing methods. Now, as he prepares for graduation, he hopes to come back to earn a master’s degree in the future.
When he looks back on the past few years, Shilts is grateful for the support of his family as he worked toward earning his degree, especially from his wife, sister and brother. Now, he eagerly awaits what the future holds.
The University of Houston-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 50 academic programs in the schools of Arts & Sciences; Business Administration; and Education, Health Professions & Human Development. UHV provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as an instructional site in Katy, Texas, and online classes that students can take from anywhere. UHV supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.