Terry Hay of New Zealand Graduated from UC Irvine 43 Years Ago

HONOLULU, HI, March 08, 2014

Terry Hay of New Zealand has had considerable success in business, establishing two successful companies and guiding a third to ever-greater profitability. It's hard for him to believe that more than four decades have passed since he earned his Economics degree from the University of California at Irvine.

UC-Irvine is one of ten schools in the University of California system. The UC system is recognized as the state's premier public school system, and the Irvine campus is one of its ten general campuses. Located in Orange County, UC Irvine is the fifth largest in the UC system. It is considered a "Public Ivy" school. It is unique in that it offers more graduate and professional degree programs than it does undergraduate programs. However, undergraduates are able to choose from eighty different areas of study. UC Irvine became a member of the Association of American Universities in 1996, and is the youngest university to hold membership.

Terry Hay of New Zealand wanted to attend a university with a diversity of attractions. "I was interested in going to a school that focused on more than just academics," he says today. "UC Irvine had already sold me on their prestigious programs, but I wanted something more." For this reason, the school's athletics, numerous clubs and activities, and its research and teaching opportunities helped Terry Hay of New Zealand to make the final decision to attend.

UC Irvine has a strong research base, which has been recognized by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The campus includes a medical center, a health sciences system, a teaching hospital, and owns part of the arboretum at the University of California Natural Reserve System. It is also the biggest employer in Orange County.

In addition to its impressive academics, research, and teaching opportunities, the university is also home to many award-winning athletic teams. Known as the UC Irvine Anteaters, the school's athletes compete in the Big West Conference in the NCAA Division I, and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. UC Irvine has won 28 different national sports championships since 1969.

The education Terry Hay of New Zealand received at UC-Irvine set him up for the success he later achieved in business. He established a health food distribution company that did so well, he was able to retire at the age of forty. Terry Hay of New Zealand came out of retirement to establish a new company headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand. 1996 he bought an existing in-flight catering company and ran it until 2008. He sold it and retired again, but Terry Hay of New Zealand uses his years of business acumen as a consultant to food businesses. Now, he says he travels and eats too much.

Looking back, Terry Hay of New Zealand knows that he had a great college career. He was able to pursue his academic interests, while enjoying all of the other features of UC Irvine. He explains, "UC Irvine met all of my expectations and beyond. I'm truly honored to be a graduate."

About: Terry Hay of New Zealand is a retired entrepreneur and CEO. He founded two food distribution companies in the 1980s and also bought an airline catering company in 1996. Terry Hay of New Zealand retired in 2008.