Barry A. Day, a 1972 applied mathematics graduate originally from Somerset, has gifted $25,000 to IUP to support outstanding computer science majors in the Department of Mathematical and Computer Sciences.
Day, now of Cape Coral, Florida, is the owner and president of Barry Day Associates, which serves public and private sector entities to handle some of their most complex problems dealing with program management and leadership. Founded in 2009, the company provides services and support to US-based commercial clients and governmental entities and other selected engagements throughout the world.
For the past 15 years, the Barry Day Outstanding Computer Science Student Award has been given to a senior computer science student, selected by the department, who has demonstrated academic achievements and contributions to the department, or who has made significant achievements in computer science endeavors and contributions to mankind.
“The IUP Outstanding Computer Science Student Award recognizes not only scholastic excellence but also the importance of being a community citizen,” Day said.
Through this planned gift, this prestigious award will continue to provide motivation for IUP Computer Science students to attain excellence, achieve personal and professional goals, and strive for success as a well-rounded professional, he said.
Day said that he believes that the discipline and rigor associated with his IUP mathematics experience have served him well in the varied, challenging assignments he has had in his career. He often recommends IUP to others and periodically has employed IUP computer science interns in his organizations.
“This gift clearly demonstrates the incredible generosity of our alumni and their commitment to ‘paying it forward' to current and future students,” IUP Vice President for University Advancement Khatmeh Osseiran-Hanna said.
Not only do gifts like this help our students to finance their studies, they provide an inspiration to excellence, and a reminder that the IUP roots run very deep—alumni are looking out for current and future students, and want to help them to build their careers. There will always be changes at IUP, but this commitment is firm and constant.”
While at IUP, Day was a member of IUP's ROTC program, and upon his graduation, was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the US Army. Immediately after his IUP graduation, he served on active duty for two years at Fort Bliss, Texas, and at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. On reserve duty he was the commanding officer of the 946th Terminal Transfer Company in Lewis, Delaware.
In 1974, he accepted an employment offer from the DuPont Company as a computer programmer. During his 23-year career at DuPont, Day advanced through several management positions. He was chief information officer for the global $3-billion Imaging Systems / Medical Products / Electronic Materials Sector; the manufacturing plant manager for DuPont Medical Diagnostics; and SAP manager for the 250-person Global SAP Group in DuPont Information Systems.
While at DuPont, Day and the organizations which he led received numerous awards, including designating the DuPont Enterprise Resources Planning implementation using SAP as the “Best of the Best” in the chemical industry. He has often been quoted in industry professional publications.
In 1997, Day influenced the DuPont Company's decision to outsource the DuPont Information Systems organization in what industry professionals called “the largest information technology outsourcing ever.” In the 10-year deal valued at nearly $4 billion, Day joined Computer Sciences Corporation in Falls Church, Virginia.
Prior to the founding of his company, Day worked for Computer Sciences Corporation as a business development director, specializing in outsourcing information technology organizations and their Enterprise Resource Planning organizations.
The gift from Day is part of IUP's $75-million Imagine Unlimited campaign, which will enable IUP to step forward as a national leader by transforming the student experience through scholarships, program enhancements, and new and modernized facilities. The campaign is at 99 percent of goal, and it is expected that the goal will be reached, or exceeded, early in 2021.