The Paul Merage School of Business at UC Irvine will welcome the school’s namesake, Paul Merage as the distinguished speaker for the 2015 commencement ceremony. The ceremony will be held on June 15. The school was named after Paul Merage and his wife Lilly in 2005 after the couple donated a $30 million gift to the business school. Their donation was the most significant donation in the history of the University.
Merage came to the United States from Iran in the 1960s to attend college. In 1975, Paul and his brother David established Chef America, a consumer frozen food manufacturing company that is best known for its products, Hot Pockets and Lean Pockets. The brothers sold the company to Nestle in 2002 for $2.6 billion. In 2003, Paul, Richard and Greg Merage established MIG® investment companies, which include MIG Capital and MIG Real Estate Holdings, where Paul serves as the chairman.
In addition to donating to the Merage School of Business, Paul and Lilly Merage are also active in assisting with the Merage Institute for U.S-Israel Innovation Bridge program, a program designed to bring together the best and brightest minds in the United States and Israel.
“I am honored to be a part of this momentous occasion as we recognize the tremendous accomplishments of these fine graduating students and celebrate the 50th anniversary of a truly outstanding learning institution,” said Merage.
This year, The Merage School of Business will be graduating nearly 540 students across all levels, including Undergraduate business majors, Full-Time, Fully Employed, Executive and Health Care Executive MBAs. More information on the MBA programs offered at the Merage School of Business can be found at metromba.com.