The Day Family Aztec Tree
In the Day family, being an Aztec runs in the family. Twelve members have attended Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³», a tradition that began nearly five decades ago.
It started in 1978, when Thomas B. Day became Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» president and his daughter, Monica Berenter (’80), transferred to the university as a junior. She was the first in the family to attend. Five of her siblings followed.
For Berenter, Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» memories are woven into family life. She remembers seeing her father dressed in academic regalia during commencement ceremonies in Aztec Bowl. She also remembers stopping by his office between classes and attending basketball games together.
President Day was an avid sports fan who rarely missed a home game, even after retiring in 1996. He passed away in 2021 at the age of 89. President Day’s enthusiasm for Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» inspired more than a family tradition. Over the years, members of the Day family have served on university boards and committees, supported the Thomas B. Day Awards for Excellence in Physics, made philanthropic gifts, and remained devoted Aztec sports fans.
And the family’s Aztec spirit shows no sign of fading. Today, two of Berenter’s grandchildren enjoy attending basketball games, continuing a family tradition that has long extended beyond the classroom.
For the Day family, it seems, being an Aztec is part of the family tree.
Does your family tree include even more Aztecs? Has your family’s Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» tradition spanned generations? Did you meet your spouse at Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»? Share your story with us on , Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»â€™s digital community.