[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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