[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16987]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING STETSON UNIVERSITY'S COLLEGE OF LAW ON ITS 110TH ANNIVERSARY

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                         HON. GUS M. BILIRAKIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 28, 2010

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Stetson 
University's College of Law as it celebrates its 110th anniversary. 
Founded in 1900 in DeLand, Stetson was Florida's first law school. In 
1954, the Law School moved to Gulfport, where a handful of students 
began classes. Today, it boasts an enrollment of more than 1,100 
students.
  As a proud graduate of Stetson Law School, I can attest to the 
esteemed community fostered by Stetson University's College of Law in 
which students learn the skills necessary to become excellent lawyers 
and effective leaders in society.
  In addition to the acclaim received from its students, the law school 
has earned national and international attention for its exceptional 
programs in advocacy, elder law, environmental and biodiversity law, 
higher education law and policy, international law, legal writing, and 
professionalism.
  Stetson University's College of Law has educated thousands of 
outstanding lawyers, judges, and community leaders over the past 110 
years. My experience at Stetson Law nurtured my love of the law, which 
eventually led me to a career in public service as a member of the U.S. 
Congress.
  Stetson has been a beneficiary of the work of philanthropists like 
Dolly and Homer Hand. Mrs. Hand holds the admirable designation of 
being Stetson Law's youngest graduate at the age of 20; additionally, 
she and her husband have also made tremendous contributions to the law 
school, as well as education throughout the State of Florida. 
Generations of Stetson graduates will surely benefit from the 
generosity of their contributions.
  Madam Speaker I am truly honored to call Stetson Law School my alma 
mater and recognize it on its 110th anniversary. I look forward to 
watching future community leaders and scholars graduate and contribute 
to our Nation.

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