[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 74 (Thursday, May 23, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E761]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


   IN HONOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA'S GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN L. MICA

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 23, 2013

  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the University of 
Central Florida on the occasion of its golden anniversary. Located in 
Florida's 7th Congressional District, UCF is one of America's great 
education institutions.
  Over the past 50 years, UCF's campus has grown from what was once a 
commuter school with limited academic programs to today having nearly 
60,000 undergraduate and graduate students and over 10,000 faculty and 
staff on 12 campuses spread across the vast footprint of central 
Florida. Through the tireless efforts of its first University 
President, Dr. Charles M. Millican to its current President Dr. John C. 
Hitt, UCF has become the second largest university in the United 
States. Today's student body is composed of some of brightest minds 
from Florida, the Nation, and around the world while assembling some of 
the finest faculty and senior staff professionals in the country. Under 
the direction of Dr. Hitt, UCF has achieved high admission standards, 
dramatically increased research funding, built new state of the art 
facilities and established significant partnerships with major research 
institutions. The campus now features an on-campus stadium, indoor 
sports arena, increased and modern campus housing and the impressive 
development of the UCF College of Medicine at Lake Nona. UCF has been 
named one of the Nation's top 5 ``up-and-coming'' schools according to 
U.S. News and World Report while advancing in the annual overall best 
colleges rankings released each year.
  UCF has become a national leader in research with an outstanding 
academic reputation. Its regional assets include a collaboration of 
military commands, advanced simulation research coupled with the 
strength of UCF's renowned Institute for Simulation and Training. 
Further boasting its commitment to high-tech research, UCF is home to 
CREOL, The College of Optics & Photonics, a world-renowned graduate 
college for optical science and engineering education. UCF is also 
nationally recognized as having the top hospitality management program 
in the country, residing on the Rosen College campus in the heart of 
Orlando's entertainment and tourist district.
  I join my Florida colleagues and Members of Congress in extending 
congratulations to the University of Central Florida on reaching this 
important milestone. I have watched with pride the positive growth and 
impact of this great institution of higher learning. Central Florida, 
the State and Nation are richer for the investable contributions of its 
students, faculty and staff, and outstanding graduates. Looking back 
over these past 50 years with excitement for the next 50, Mr. Speaker, 
I would again like to extend my congratulations to UCF and join others 
in saying: Go Knights!

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