[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 92 (Wednesday, July 7, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1301]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     CELEBRATING THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY SESQUICENTENNIAL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DON SHERWOOD

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 6, 2004

  Mr. SHERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise 
before you today to honor the Pennsylvania State University as it 
celebrates its Sesquicentennial. On February 22, 1855, Pennsylvania 
Governor William Pollock signed the charter that created what is today 
The Pennsylvania State University. The University will be celebrating 
its Sesquicentennial for a full year from July 1, 2004 through June 30, 
2005.
  Penn State was started as a small college dedicated to the study of 
scientific agriculture; the University was then designated the 
Commonwealth's sole land-grant institution in 1863 by the Pennsylvania 
Legislature and has grown to become one of the world's most renowned 
public universities. The University is well known not only for its 
agricultural research and extension programs but also engineering, 
architecture, social sciences, medicine, and law.
  Penn State has been instrumental in creating a heart-assist pump 
developed by medical and engineering faculty in 1976 to prolong the 
lives of cardiovascular patients. This pump was the first surgically 
implantable, seam-free, pulsatile blood pump to receive widespread 
clinical use. It led to the Penn State Heart, the only artificial heart 
approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. A Penn State surgeon 
and two engineers also perfected the world's first long-life, 
rechargeable heart pacemaker.
  In 1955, physics Professor Erwin Mueller became the first person to 
``see'' an atom, using a field ion electron microscope of his own 
invention. The device was a landmark advance in scientific 
instrumentation that allowed a magnification of more than 2 million 
times.
  Penn State in 1955 became the first university to be issued a federal 
license to operate a nuclear reactor, which it continues to use for 
studies in the peaceful uses of atomic energy and the training of 
nuclear industry personnel.
  Penn State is a leader in food science. In 1892 Penn State offered 
America's first collegiate instruction in ice cream manufacture, 
followed soon after by a pioneering ``short course'' program that has 
helped to make the University an international center for research in 
frozen confections. Ice cream gurus Ben & Jerry got their start from a 
correspondence course in ice cream making from Penn State.
  Pennsylvania's and the nation's pure food laws stem partly from the 
work of pioneer chemist William Frear, who in the early 1900s analyzed 
foods for government agencies and headed an expert committee whose 
recommendations shaped the landmark Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906.
  In the 1920s, Penn State became the first land-grant college to 
initiate a comprehensive mushroom research program. Researchers 
developed improved composts and production practices that were adopted 
by growers worldwide and also helped Pennsylvania retain its leadership 
as the number one source of domestic mushrooms.
  This institution has contributed tremendously to the Commonwealth and 
the nation, with graduates throughout the world as well as the largest 
outreach efforts with programs in every state and 87 foreign countries. 
The University has 11 academic schools and 20 campuses located 
throughout the Commonwealth, as well as an extension program that 
reaches nearly one out of two residents annually. Penn State annually 
host the largest all student run philanthropy in the world raising over 
3.5 million dollars for The Four Diamonds Fund which provides money for 
comprehensive care of children with cancer, support for their families, 
and for research of pediatric cancer.
  One out of every eight Pennsylvanians and one in every 720 people in 
the United States, as well as one out of every 50 engineers and one out 
of every four meteorologists has a Penn State degree. The university 
also boasts the largest dues paying alumni association in the nation 
that was established in 1870.
  The University has also produced many championship Division I 
athletic teams, as well as a record breaking and legendary football 
coach Joe Paterno.
  The 150th anniversary of Penn State will highlight what is important 
and good about this distinguished institution and the fine people and 
research that it produces.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge you and my colleagues to congratulate the 
administration, faculty, staff, alumni and students of Penn State as 
they celebrate the Sesquicentennial of this fine institution. I wish 
them all the best during their next 150 years.

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