[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 162 (Monday, November 14, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1431-E1432]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CELEBRATING UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-PLATTEVILLE'S SESQUICENTENNIAL

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON KIND

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 14, 2016

  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the University of 
Wisconsin-Platteville on 150 years of academic excellence. UW-
Platteville celebrated its sesquicentennial throughout the 2015-2016 
academic year. As this university enters its 150th year of providing 
quality and affordable education, it is fitting we highlight the 
academic achievements of the faculty, staff, graduates, and students. 
Their continued dedication to higher learning has been a great source 
of pride for me as the university excels year after year. U.S. News and 
World Report ranked the online learning courses as one of the top in 
the nation and it is the fastest growing UW System school.
   Founded in 1866, the university is located in Platteville, 
Wisconsin, near Wisconsin's southwest border. It began its storied 
history as Wisconsin's first state teacher preparation institution as 
the Platteville Normal School. Its proud engineering heritage has roots 
with the Wisconsin Mining Trade School founded in 1907 and in 1917 
became the first school in the United States to offer a three-year 
course in mining engineering. The mining school became the Wisconsin 
Institute of Technology in 1939, which would merge with the Platteville 
State Teachers College in 1959 to become the Wisconsin State College 
and Institute of Technology at Platteville. In 1966, the name was 
changed again to the Wisconsin State University-Platteville. After 
joining the UW System governed by the board of regents, the school 
reached its current namesake in 1971 as the University of Wisconsin-
Platteville.
   I have always been proud of the strong and continuous emphasis 
placed on education by those I represent in western and central 
Wisconsin. The University of Wisconsin-Platteville is a leading example 
of this; expanding on its original academic disciplines of engineering 
and education, it now provides over 42 majors for over 8,000 students. 
Courses are even offered through an innovative distance education 
program enabling over 3,000 students the world over to pursue higher 
degrees. This thriving body of students have banded together under the 
symbol of a Pioneer. The Pioneers have long established traditions such 
as the lighting of the ``M''. Laid in 1936 by mining students 
attempting to build the largest M in the world, the community now holds 
a twice-annual ceremony where they light the whitewashed stones in a 
brilliant blaze. When a tornado caused significant damage to the campus 
in June of 2014, the Pioneers rallied around their strong sense of 
community to ensure classes were able to continue for the fall 
semester.

[[Page E1432]]

   Throughout the year-long anniversary celebration, alumni, students, 
and faculty were invited to participate in various events under the 
theme ``Remember the Past. Celebrate the Present. Pioneer the Future.'' 
These events included a campus art show displaying generations of 
student work, featured profiles of alumni and staff, and various forums 
for sharing their memories. The celebration culminated with a birthday 
party on October 15th, 2016.
   I would like to congratulate all the past and present faculty, 
staff, and students on 150 years of proud and pioneering years in the 
pursuit of higher education. It is because of your commitment that UW-
Platteville is such a success and it is through you the university will 
continue to lead the way for another 150 years.

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