[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 25, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E247]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    IN HONOR OF THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. ANDY BARR

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 25, 2015

  Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the 
University of Kentucky, which celebrates its sesquicentennial 
anniversary this month. As an original land grant research university 
and Kentucky's flagship public institution of higher learning, UK is 
the cornerstone of education in the Commonwealth, having prepared 
graduates of exceptional quality and character for 150 years.
  With humble beginnings in 1865, the school began as the Agricultural 
and Mechanical College of Kentucky University. In the time since its 
founding, the University of Kentucky has maintained its traditional 
values while also extending and enhancing its multifaceted mission of 
teaching, research, service, and health care. The University of 
Kentucky has progressed from its early innovative roots to become a 
vibrant and diverse place of development and potential.
  Its faculty, staff, students, and alumni are deeply devoted to the 
University's central value of service to others. Students are civically 
engaged and most take advantage of the volunteer, leadership, service, 
and activism opportunities on the University's diverse and creative 
campus.
  The University of Kentucky now looks to the next 150 years of higher 
learning, innovative discovery, transformative outreach and 
sophisticated care, as it honors the legacy of those who established 
its campus, nurtured its early work, upheld and enhanced its mission in 
the present, and who will deliver a new century of promise in the 
future. Athletics have also been an important part of the school's 
heritage, with the Kentucky Wildcats laying claim to more than 30 NCAA 
Championships and 270 conference titles across 22 intercollegiate 
sports. In particular, the University of Kentucky is home to the 
``Greatest Tradition in College Basketball'' as the winningest program 
of all-time, in both the number of total wins and total win percentage. 
The Cats have also proven dominant in the postseason, with the most 
NCAA tournament appearances, the most tournament game wins, and eight 
national championships.
  There is no doubt that the University will continue to accrue both 
academic and athletic achievements into the 21st Century. I encourage 
my colleagues to join in congratulating my alma mater, the University 
of Kentucky on this milestone. Kentuckians are proud of the progress 
this distinguished institution has made over the past 150 years in 
preparing our nation's next generation of leaders for success, and look 
forward to seeing all of the prosperity that the next 150 years will 
bring.
  Go Cats.

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