[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]




                    PENN STATE: 150 YEARS OF SERVICE

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                           HON. BILL SHUSTER

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 6, 2004

  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to join my colleagues 
in recognition of Penn State's 150 years of service to students in 
pursuit of higher education. Charted in 1854 in response to a request 
from Pennsylvania State Agriculture Society, Penn State was established 
as agriculture based school with the goal of applying scientific 
principles to farming. In time, its ability to draw intellectual talent 
and broaden its mission enabled it to grow into one of the premier 
educational institutions in the country.
  Over the past 150 years, Penn State has continued to expand its 
mission to meet the challenges of tomorrow. Today, the University 
consists of 11 academic schools and 20 campuses throughout the state, 
including two in my district, located in Altoona and Mont Alto. 
Additionally, the Penn State system holds a College of Medicine, the 
Dickinson School of Law and the Pennsylvania College of Technology. All 
together the combined enrollment in Penn State programs is more than 
80,000 students.
  To give a sense of this school's impact over the years let me share 
some facts: one in every eight Pennsylvanians with a college degree is 
a Penn State graduate and one in 720 people in the U.S. is a Penn State 
graduate. On personal level, I have felt Penn State's impact in my own 
life, three of my siblings attended Penn State and numerous members of 
my staff over the years are Penn State alumni.
  So why is it that thousands of students from all walks of life come 
to Penn State in pursuit of a higher education? They come knowing that 
their time at Penn State will translate into a top-quality education. 
Penn State has been consistently recognized as one of the best 
technical schools in the country and U.S News and World Report's 
``America's Best Graduate Schools 2004'' selected a number of Penn 
State programs among the nation's top ten. These strong credentials are 
proof of Penn State's high standards.
  Mr. Speaker, once again I want to congratulate Penn State on 150 
years of excellence and to thank all of the professors, administrators, 
staff, students and alumni who dedicate themselves to making Penn State 
one of the most valuable educational institutions in our state and our 
nation.

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