This is part of #EberlyAmazingStudents, a series from the IUP Eberly College of Business and Information Technology that focuses on students who are involved in a variety of extra-curricular activities.
Meet Jay Morrison, a senior at IUP studying finance in the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology. Jay is also involved with the Student Managed Investment Portfolio here on campus.
Jay is a Pittsburgh native who graduated from Baldwin High School in 2016. When finishing up in high school, Jay knew that he wanted to attend college, but was hesitant to accumulate a large amount of student debt. After a period of vetting many different universities, he was convinced by a close friend, who was already an IUP student, to come and see what IUP has to offer. Jay knew right away that IUP would make a good home for him, providing an excellent education and unique college experience while still remaining affordable.
While speaking with Jay, I quickly discovered that he has a strong passion for the business industry and a knack for innovation. Jay initially enrolled as a graphic design major, but later transferred to Eberly as a finance major and hasn't looked back since.
Jay explored more of what Eberly has to offer and discovered the SMIP, the student managed investment portfolio team. The SMIP is a class and a club that empowers the students to control an investment portfolio for IUP. The portfolio is currently valued around $1.87 million thanks to the members of the club! Jay is a sector leader, in charge of the financial sector of the portfolio. He and his team analyze and make decisions regarding financial stocks such as PNC Bank.
Jay had many praises to give about the SMIP. "SMIP has taught me a lot; business has a lot of different aspects, it is not just one thing. Everyone can bring something special to the table. There are endless opportunities that can be capitalized on. SMIP has a real-time feedback and current events and knowledge. The interactions I have there are powerful. The people I meet will be integrated into my network, and we discuss meaningful things. The classes in Eberly provide the theory and ideas that we can use in SMIP to make actual transactions and investments."
"Knowledge is not enough, we must apply. Willingness is not enough, we must do." Bruce Lee
Jay plans to work for a large company while simultaneously creating his own ventures. He is open to most industries as long as he can pursue his love of the business sector. Jay is especially fond of small business and the impact that each person has there.
Over the summer, he interned at C.S. McKee, a small investment company. Jay gained much from his interactions each day. He had the opportunity to get to know the employees on a personal level, including the CEO who he saw daily. "Working with and learning from a knowledgeable and respected leader who sees and hears you is an invaluable and empowering experience," he said.
Written by Tyler Vicari
About #EberlyAmazingStudents
The #EberlyAmazingStudents series features students who are involved in a variety of extra-curricular activities. Associate Dean Cyndy Strittmatter is overseeing the project. "We are proud of our students who balance their academics with extracurricular activities and recognize the commitment that it takes to excel at all levels. We look forward to sharing their accomplishments with the IUP community and beyond!