Young Alumni Award
Everything had aligned for Zane Gray by the time he reached his senior year at USC Upstate. He had secured an internship at one of the four leading accounting firms in the world, and he had been accepted into the master of professional accountancy program at Clemson.
But Gray realized his heart wasn’t in accounting.
A fortuitously timed phone call from Hannah Terpack, director of USC Upstate’s Career Management, led him to serve as assistant director of the office for three years.
Then a college friend offered him a new opportunity at Robert Half, where Gray works today as an assistant vice president.
He credits his experiences at Upstate with shaping his career development. The accounting program gave him a strong grounding in the field, and involvement in student organizations sharpened his soft skills.
Perhaps most critically, Upstate taught him the value of relationships. Grey helps foster those connections by giving back to Upstate. He teaches financial literacy to undergraduates and serves on the board of the business school.
“I think that I personally am excited to be a part of great things that help move the world forward,” he says. “When I feel like I can contribute to that, I do.”