[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 23 (Wednesday, February 13, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S676-S677]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              150TH ANNIVERSARY OF KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY

  Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I rise to commemorate--along with my 
distinguished friend and colleague Senator Jerry Moran--the 150th 
anniversary of Kansas State University--home of the ever-optimistic 
Wildcats.
  Since its beginning--even before Kansas joined the union as a free 
State--all the way up to today, Kansas State University continues to 
provide a first-rate education for thousands and thousands of students.
  To quote the K-State alma mater lyrics: ``I know a spot that I love 
full well.'' I--along with more than 200,000 alumni--am proud to call 
Kansas State University my alma mater, as did my father and also my 
son.
  The year was back in 1858, when Kansas was only a territory--not even 
a State--that a group of local settlers founded Bluemont Central 
College. Then, in 1863, only 2 years into statehood, the State 
legislature and Governor became some of the first to accept the terms 
and conditions of the Morrill Act, thus creating the land grant system 
of colleges and universities.
  On February 16, 1863, the Kansas State Agriculture College, formally 
known today as Kansas State University, received a land grant charter 
and became the first operational land grant institution in the United 
States. Over the past 150 years, Kansas State University has progressed 
and expanded to accommodate the students and the people living in the 
State of Kansas--the people it has served so well.
  Today, Kansas State University is comprised of nine academic colleges 
ranging from liberal arts to veterinary medicine. The university 
expanded its campus in Manhattan to include an aviation and technology 
school in Salina and an innovation campus in Olathe, KS. Also, Kansas 
State University Research and Extension has a presence in every county 
in Kansas--all 105. These offices are a source of vital information to 
every farmer and rancher in our State. We are staying true to our land 
grant roots.
  Back in 1863, Kansas State University's first enrollment totaled a 
mere 14 students. This school year Kansas State University reached a 
record enrollment of more than 24,000 students. These students hail 
from all 50 States and over 90 countries. Out of this diverse 
population, the university has produced industry leaders, heads of 
States, humanitarians, generals, gifted scientists, and a few public 
servants.
  Kansas State University has received national recognition for the 
exceptional education it provides students year after year. Kansas 
State continues to have college programs ranked the best in the Nation. 
The university has been recognized as a leader among public 
universities in total number of Rhodes, Truman, Marshall, Udall, and 
Goldwater Scholars.
  I cannot talk about my alma mater without mentioning Kansas State 
University's athletic program, especially over the recent years. Since 
its first football game way back in 1883, dedicated fans have been 
coming to the sports arenas to support our athletes and our team. This 
intercollegiate athletic program has complemented the education 
provided by the university and has been a great source of purple pride 
for both alumni and Kansas.
  As Kansas State University looks toward the future, it sets new goals 
for the institution and for its students. Launched by president Kirk 
Schulz in 2010, K-State 2025, the university's strategic plan, strives 
to make Kansas State University a top 50 public research institution 
within 15 years. Thanks to the work that has been done throughout the 
past 150 years and the research that continues, I have no doubt Kansas 
State University is on track to achieve this very important goal.
  Throughout this week and weekend, students, staff, alumni, and 
friends of the university will gather in Manhattan, KS--the ``little 
apple''--to celebrate the history of Kansas State University.
  On behalf of the Senate, it is my honor to congratulate Kansas State

[[Page S677]]

University on its accomplishments over the past 150 years. As the alma 
mater song says, it is truly ``a spot that I love full well.'' Every 
man a Wildcat.
  I yield to my distinguished friend and colleague, Senator Moran.
  Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Kansas.
  There is no K State alumni, no individual from our home State who 
bleeds the color purple more fervently than the senior Senator from 
Kansas. It is an honor to join him here today to recognize the 
significant accomplishments on the 150th anniversary of the first land 
grant university college in the Nation.
  Senator Roberts comes to the Kansas State University through his 
family--his father as well as his son.
  I have become acquainted with Kansas State University as a citizen of 
our State in which we see each and every day the benefits that accrue 
to the citizens of our State because of the academic research, the 
education, the extension of education across our State that benefits 
each and every citizen. So it is with great pleasure that we honor the 
accomplishments today of this university. It has had tremendous 
leadership.
  In my early days in Congress, President Wefald in many ways created a 
great opportunity for Kansas State University to excel, to become 
something different than it had been, to move forward into the future. 
Now, under the leadership of president Kirk Schulz, his leadership only 
accelerates the opportunity for Kansas State University to provide new 
and beneficial services, education, and benefits to the people of our 
State, to our country, and to students around the globe.
  Kansas State University is known for its agricultural background, for 
its support for that significant industry in our State--farmers and 
ranchers look to Kansas State University for education and for 
technical support, and we know of their importance in that No. 1 
industry in our State--but, as Senator Roberts said, engineering and 
aerospace; now a campus at Salina, KS, dealing with aviation and 
avionics, with UAVs moving into the future; a campus in Johnson County, 
the suburbs of Kansas City, in which additional research in bioscience 
is being accelerated. So in each and every circumstance, Kansas State 
University contributes to the economy and well-being of our State and 
our country.
  As a parent, I know Kansas State University. Both our daughters 
attended Kansas State University, and one remains a student there. I 
remember the first day I wandered with my 17-, 18-year-old daughter 
onto campus for a campus tour, and at the end of the day--I will admit 
we had visited other universities as well, but at the end of the day 
Kelsey said: Dad, there is no place more welcoming, no place more like 
home, no place where I feel like a part of a family more than Kansas 
State University.
  That is something I think K State exhibits so well and causes Kansas 
to be so proud of the Wildcat tradition, which is a sense of family; 
that we are in it together and people are friends. It is a very 
comfortable and enjoyable learning environment for students, and we 
have seen it in our family.
  Our youngest daughter followed her older sister to Kansas State 
University and is now a beginning student at the College of Veterinary 
Medicine. Another area in which Kansas State University is highly 
regarded is the study of animal science. K State in Manhattan, KS, is 
the western border of the animal science corridor, the eastern border 
being that place that all Kansans, regardless of alma mater, despise--
the University of Missouri. So from west to east, the animal science 
corridor is bounded by the research scientists and educators and the 
schools that increase the likelihood that Americans are going to have 
nutrition, be well fed, and have a safe and abundant food supply.
  It is an honor to be here to pay tribute to the many leaders at 
Kansas State University, those who have come before and those who will 
follow President Wefald and President Schulz to make sure Kansas State 
University remains that place of higher education and learning in our 
State but also to make certain Kansas State University in Manhattan, 
KS, is always that place called home where students from across our 
State and around the globe feel as though they have found family and a 
place to learn to improve their lives and to make certain they 
contribute to the betterment of our world.
  It is an honor to be here with one of the most distinguished alumni 
of Kansas State University, my colleague and friend Senator Roberts, to 
wish Kansas State University many more years of success in providing 
education to our students and moving our State forward in ways that 
will benefit not only this generation but those that follow us.
  So congratulations, Kansas State University, and happy 150th 
birthday.
  Mr. President, I yield back to the Senator from Kansas.
  Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I thank my dear friend and colleague more 
especially for highlighting what K State is all about, and that is 
family. If one chooses to attend Kansas State, as many do--many come 
from small town America, and many come from big cities, but I think 
they are all struck by the family atmosphere.
  The thing I think is rather remarkable, even in having the privilege 
of talking to some of K State's football team and some of the athletes, 
both basketball and football--all sports at K State--I am always able 
to tell the thousands and thousands of fans from K State who know their 
history, know where they are coming from, and always support them 
regardless of the outcome. So K State is a family.
  K State's legendary coach Bill Snyder, who has achieved miracles on 
the football field with team after team, always stresses family and 
togetherness and the proper role of athletics in education.
  My son David went to K State, and he fell in love with K State. He 
didn't have much of a choice as far as I was concerned, but he did 
really enjoy himself at K State. Basically, I am struck by the fact 
that many of his friends who are graduates--when that day comes when 
you graduate or when you leave K State, those generations really stick 
together, and they are friends for life. It is in that vein that I 
think the Senator's remarks are certainly right on target.
  Mr. MORAN. If the Senator would yield.
  Mr. ROBERTS. I would be happy to yield.
  Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, Senator Roberts raises something that I 
wish to make clear, which is that Kansas State University has been so 
kind and so beneficial to our two daughters. While they found it to be 
home and like family, they have excelled and learned, advanced their 
lives both personally and professionally in ways that are so important 
to us as parents. We have nothing but commendation to offer to Kansas 
State University for the kindness and opportunities they have created 
for our own daughters as they pursue their goals in life.
  So it is a very personal opportunity for me to express this gratitude 
to Kansas State University for making it so good for the things a mom 
and dad care so much about. For our two daughters Kelsey and Alex, K 
State is an important component of their lives, and we are so 
appreciative of the role that university has played in educating our 
children.
  I yield back to the Senator from Kansas.

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