[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 43 (Monday, April 20, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3299-S3300]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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          FROSTBURG STATE UNIVERSITY'S CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY

 Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate one 
of Maryland's finest state institutions, Frostburg State University, on 
the occasion of its Centennial Anniversary.
  Since its founding in 1898, Frostburg State University has been a 
primary component of the greater Frostburg community. Although small 
towns are often identified merely as extensions of the school in their 
midst, it is more the case that Frostburg State is a true extension of 
the town of Frostburg. In fact, the people of Frostburg themselves 
raised the funds that were used to buy the land on which the 
institution is located. This symbiotic relationship is one in which the 
Frostburg community provides the support system for the school and in 
turn, is enriched by the school and its students.
  This unique relationship dates back to when the University was a 
small local teacher training institution named the State Normal School 
at Frostburg. Upon completing their training, students often stayed in 
the area and taught at regional elementary schools. This tradition of 
community participation continued as the school evolved into a State 
Teachers College in 1935 and finally, a multipurpose institution, 
Frostburg State University, in July of 1987, becoming a member of the 
University of Maryland System the following year.
  While the commitment to teacher training remains at the core of 
Frostburg State's mission, the University has expanded its curriculum 
significantly to include the arts and sciences, professional and pre-
professional programs, and graduate programs including business, 
psychology and biology training. Enrollment has grown from an initial 
class of 57 to over 5,200, and the University's degree program now 
requires four years of study.

[[Page S3300]]

  It is important to note, however, that Frostburg State University 
occupies a unique educational niche as the only four-year institution 
west of the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area. Therefore, it 
serves as the intellectual and cultural center for this westernmost 
region of my State, and for nearby communities in Pennsylvania and West 
Virginia. Although the student body includes students from various 
states and foreign countries, it continues to draw primarily from the 
immediate area, and provides important employment opportunities for the 
residents of the region. Furthermore, Frostburg State enjoys a 
partnership with the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) from whom 
they receive federal funds for various projects that enrich the 
school's resources and provide further economic development to the 
area.
  It has always been my firm belief that a democracy cannot prosper and 
grow without an educated populace. As the world becomes increasingly 
complex and technically challenging, the quality education of the 
individual is one of the most important tasks in our society. From its 
inception, Frostburg State University has prioritized education; 
maintaining a commitment to providing community and educational 
services to the entire region while, at the same time, succeeding in 
providing a nationally acclaimed education to its own university 
community.
  As we celebrate this important milestone, I would like to commend the 
greater Frostburg State University family for upholding the traditions 
of community cooperation and commitment to excellence that serve to 
exemplify the very best that Maryland has to offer.

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