[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 50 (Thursday, April 24, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E753-E754]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY'S 125TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. CURT WELDON

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 24, 1997

  Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this 
opportunity to salute my alma mater, West Chester University, on the 
occasion of its 125th anniversary. On September 25, 1871, Principal 
Ezekiel Cook welcomed the first class of students to West Chester 
University, then known as the West Chester Normal School. Since that 
first year

[[Page E754]]

when the Normal School was made up of only 156 students, the principal, 
and 11 faculty members, West Chester University has blossomed and 
expanded as a provider of quality education for today's young people.
  Today, more than 10,000 undergraduate students and nearly 2,000 
graduate students are enrolled at West Chester University, receiving an 
affordable quality education. In fact, West Chester University is now 
the second largest of the institutions that make up Pennsylvania's 
State system of higher education.
  The university offers these students a wide variety of educational 
opportunities, including degrees in the arts and sciences, teacher 
training and certification, continuing education classes for adults, 
and advance study in medicine, law, and education. In fact, I am so 
convinced of the superior educational offerings of my alma mater that I 
didn't hesitate when two of my three daughters told me that they wanted 
to attend West Chester University.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be a graduate of this fine institution. I 
am confident West Chester University will continue to bring a high-
quality education experience to the community as well as the entire 
Delaware Valley. I know my colleagues join me in congratulating West 
Chester University on 125 years of excellence in education.

                          ____________________