Tom Hayes, ‘87, former CEO of Ocean Spray, will deliver the commencement address at the University of New Hampshire undergraduate ceremonies on May 16. A respected leader in the food industry, with more than three decades of experience guiding major consumer brands, Hayes will offer words of inspiration to the class of ‘26.
“My years at UNH not only helped me earn a degree but launched me on a career path that I have enjoyed,” Hayes said in a press release. “My time in Durham gave me lifelong friends and taught me the value of balance and being open to possibilities.”
Hayes served as president and CEO of Ocean Spray from 2020 to 2025, leading the world’s top producer of cranberry products, and overseeing a global cooperative of more than 700 grower-owners and 2,000 employees.
His career includes leadership roles across the food sector, including serving as president and CEO of Tyson Foods, where he directed a $40 billion enterprise and advanced new strategies focused on growth, sustainability, and corporate purpose.
Hayes has also served two terms on the UNH Foundation Board from 2019–2025 and is now a Foundation Board emeritus.
UNH graduate school commencement speaker: Rebecca Rule ‘76, ‘79G
Friday, May 15, 10 a.m., Whittemore Center Arena at the Key Auto Group Complex
Rule has built a statewide following through her live events, books and long-running work with New Hampshire PBS and the NH Humanities Council. She hosted the NH Authors Series on NH PBS for 10 years and now hosts the station’s “Our Hometown,” highlighting the character and history of communities across the state. Her books include “N is for New Hampshire,” “The Iciest Diciest Scariest Sled Ride Ever!” and “Headin’ for the Rhubarb: A NH Dictionary (well, kinda).”
UNH’s Franklin Pierce School of Law commencement speaker: Charles McIntyre
Friday, May 15, 5 p.m., White Park, Concord Over the past 15 years, McIntyre has steadily grown the New Hampshire Lottery and Gaming Commission’s revenue from $62 million in his first year as executive director to approximately $209 million in 2025.
Within that first year, NH went from being the slowest-growth lottery in the U.S. to being among the top five in sales and net funding growth. He also helped oversee the launch of the state’s online iLottery and the adoption of Keno. He is an outspoken advocate for preservation of regulatory policies that protect state lotteries and has testified before state boards, legislative bodies, municipalities and the U.S. Congress.
Granite State Award: Dana Hamel ‘88P, ‘23H
May 15 & 16, 10 a.m., Whittemore Center Arena at the Key Auto Group Complex
Dana Hamel, who made transformative gifts to help New Hampshire students realize their academic dreams, will be posthumously awarded a Granite State Award, for outstanding contributions and an enduring impact on the University and the state.
In 2008, Hamel and his family established the Dana A. Hamel Scholarships and Scholars Program to attract and retain the state’s best and brightest graduating high school seniors for study at UNH, and to recognize outstanding juniors for exceptional leadership and academic accomplishments. The program has offered renewable scholarships to more than 300 first-year students and rising juniors over the past 15 years.
Two earlier Hamel family gifts to benefit UNH students were the Hamel Student Recreation Center and the Hamel Center for Undergraduate Research. In 2023, Hamel gave $20 million to support a dedicated living-learning community for high-achieving students to significantly expand in-class and extracurricular opportunities for honors students and Hamel Scholars.
For more information, visit unh.edu.
Tom Hayes, ‘87, former CEO of Ocean Spray, will deliver the commencement address at the University of New Hampshire undergraduate ceremonies on May 16. A respected leader in the food industry, with more than three decades of experience guiding major consumer brands, Hayes will offer words of inspiration to the class of ‘26.
Keene State College’s (KSC) Safety and Construction Sciences programs recently hosted a three-day summit that brought students, faculty, alumni and industry leaders from across the country to address the future of the occupational safety profession and the growing demand for qualified safety professionals.
The board of directors of the Education Alliance for New Hampshire (EANH) has voted unanimously to close the organization’s operations following the loss of significant federal funding that has historically supported its core college access programs, the organization said in a press release.
EDUCATION By: Tim Winkeler In New Hampshire, and across America, it is not easy to find a job. From artificial intelligence to economic uncertainty, job-seekers are struggling to find not only specific careers, but also broader career paths that will…
The availability of affordable yet well-maintained housing has become a perennial issue in New Hampshire communities and in the New Hampshire Legislature. While local and state policies and programs may open pathways to increased housing opportunities, policies alone won’t create new housing or keep existing homes in safe and livable condition.
Property taxes pay for 70% of public education costs in NH
In a tour of New Hampshire ahead of this year’s elections, former U.S. transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg spoke in favor of increasing government support for child care in a roundtable discussion at the Granite YMCA in Concord.
Slim profit margins, high operating costs, low staff compensation and limited government funding led to an 11% net loss in licensed child care programs in New Hampshire between 2017 and 2025, according to new research from the UNH Carsey School of Public Policy.
Bob Baines, the former mayor of Manchester, past principal of Manchester High School West and current Manchester School Board member, died in Boston on Jan. 23 due to complications following heart surgery.
