[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 17 (Thursday, February 2, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E122-E123]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           IN RECOGNITION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DENNIS A. ROSS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 2, 2012

  Mr. ROSS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the University 
of South Florida (USF). USF has become an academic powerhouse not only 
in the State of Florida, but nationally as well. Boasting an enrollment 
of approximately thirty-seven thousand graduate and undergraduate 
students, USF has attracted top quality students from all over the 
world, making it a true model of diversity. And more students will be 
coming.
  USF states that it offers more than two hundred programs for its 
students to choose from and has a library system with two and a half 
million volumes and six facilities. In 2010, according to the 
Intellectual Property Owners Association, USF ranked ninth world-wide 
among fourteen universities ranked among three-hundred organizations 
that earned the most patents in 2010. In addition to its top flight 
academic programs, USF has emerged as an athletic powerhouse. Its 
student-athletes compete at the highest levels of collegiate athletics, 
with some continuing their playing careers professionally. In fact, USF 
alum Jason Pierre-Paul, a Pro Bowl defensive end with the New York 
Giants, will be playing for a Super Bowl championship this Sunday.
  Aside from the accomplishments I have just stated, the National 
Academy of Inventors notes that it was founded at USF in 2010. 
According to the Academy, it encourages intellectual property 
innovation and development, which contributes greatly to societal 
advancement. History has shown us that creative minds, such as the ones 
at USF, are often responsible for breakthroughs that change how we 
live. From Thomas Edison's light bulb to the Wright brothers' airplane, 
we need to continue cultivating today's young minds to be as bold as 
their predecessors. I am proud to say that USF's National Academy of 
Inventors is leading this charge.
  The National Academy of Inventors will soon be holding a conference 
in Tampa in the USF Research Park from February 16-17th. I salute the 
achievements of the Academy to date, and look forward to what the 
future holds for these innovators. As a whole, USF continues to produce 
tremendous results. It can no longer be said that USF is emerging, 
rather it has arrived and it will continue to make Floridians proud. I 
ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing USF's exceptional 
achievements.

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