[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 11, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H1693]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simmons). Pursuant to the order of the 
House of January 7, 2003, the gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. Acevedo-
Vila) is recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. ACEVEDO-VILA. Mr. Speaker, this week Puerto Rico is celebrating 
the 100th anniversary of the University of Puerto Rico, our oldest and 
most prominent higher education institution. One hundred years ago, the 
University of the Puerto Rico was founded as a training center for 
teachers, and opened its doors with just 173 students. Since then, the 
UPR has evolved to become the foremost Hispanic-serving institution in 
the United States, and one of the leading universities in the Spanish-
speaking world. Today the UPR offers 485 academic programs in 
practically all areas of learning and has a student body of about 
70,000 students.
  The political, cultural and economic development of Puerto Rico has 
been closely linked to the UPR. From governors, Supreme Court judges, 
and NASA engineers to world-renowned authors and poet laureates, all 
can be found in the UPR alumni. I am proud to be one of thousands of 
alumni of the UPR that today pay tribute to our alma mater. We look 
forward to another 100 years of excellence.
  Mr. Speaker, congratulations to the people of Puerto Rico, to the 
University of Puerto Rico, to its students, and to its alumni on its 
100-year anniversary.

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