[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 186 (Friday, October 30, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1001]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      CELEBRATING NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY'S 125TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROBIN L. KELLY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 30, 2020

  Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today for myself and 
Members of the Illinois delegation to speak about Northern Illinois 
University, my alma mater and a major contributor to the life, health 
and future of the Midwest and beyond.
  This year, NIU celebrates its 125th anniversary. Like so many state 
universities across our great country, NIU began as a ``normal 
school,'' or teachers college. In the late 1800s, 11 million people had 
moved from farms to cities, and our country had welcomed 25 million new 
immigrants. The need for better access to education was exceeded only 
by the need for more teachers--and schools like NIU were created to 
meet those needs.
  From the beginning, NIU has been an institution committed to 
providing opportunity for underserved students--students who are the 
first in their families to attend college, students of color and 
students with high financial need. Today nearly 75 percent of NIU 
students fall into one or more of those categories, with about 45 
percent Pell grant-eligible, 50 percent students of color and 50 
percent first generation college students. At the same time, NIU excels 
in the creation and dissemination of new knowledge. In 2017, the 
Brookings Institution gave NIU high rankings for excellence at the 
intersection of research accomplishments and the creation of social 
mobility for students exposed to hands-on research and other 
opportunities they might not otherwise experience.
  NIU faculty are not only great teachers, but many are world-renowned 
scientists, authors, and policy experts. They study climate change, 
look for ways to improve physical and mental health, create fuel-saving 
vehicles, expand the boundaries of visual and performance art, explore 
ancient and modern cultures and much more. A host of federal agencies 
have expressed confidence in NIU through grant awards for study of such 
diverse areas as Southeast Asian languages and cultures, assistive 
technologies for people who are blind or visually impaired, and new 
devices for the Department of Homeland Security to keep air travel 
safe.
  Nearly 250,000 alumni in the northern Illinois region and around the 
world are making a difference in their chosen fields. The impact of 
this outstanding institution has earned the respect and attention of a 
grateful state and nation. As a proud alumna, I am honored to join my 
colleagues to congratulate Northern Illinois University on this, its 
125th anniversary.

                          ____________________