[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 15706]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  CONGRATULATING OKLAHOMA UNIVERSITIES

 Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I wish to applaud the University of 
Central Oklahoma and the University of Oklahoma for being recognized by 
the Military Times as among the 100 best colleges for our Nation's 
veterans. With over 2,400 students who are veterans between them, UCO 
and OU provide outstanding support and academic experiences for our 
Nation's heroes after they have returned from their service to our 
Nation in uniform.
  Founded in 1890 as one of Oklahoma's first institutions of higher 
learning, the University of Central Oklahoma is ranked 40th on this 
list and cultivates creativity and innovation from its 17,000 students, 
of which more than 700 are veterans. Students have the opportunity to 
earn diplomas from the more than 100 major areas of study offered at 
UCO. In 2010, UCO established the Veteran's Hero office to address the 
unique needs of our veterans and their families as they transition from 
the battlefield to the classroom. Continuously recognized as among the 
best universities in the Nation, UCO puts the extra effort into taking 
care of our veterans and has earned distinction in this area for 3 
consecutive years in similar rankings by Victory Media, a nationwide 
veterans' employment recruiting service.
  Also founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma ranks 85th on this 
list and has nearly 30,000 students, of whom more than 1,700 are 
veterans who are earning degrees from the more than 150 majors offered 
on three campuses. Through the Veterans Support Alliance, faculty and 
staff volunteers at the University of Oklahoma have provided a positive 
and supportive learning environment for veterans. OU's efforts have 
helped student veterans and servicemembers achieve academic excellence 
and personal success. As a pacesetter for public higher education, OU 
is also ranked by the Princeton Review as among the top 10 public 
universities in the nation in terms of academic excellence and cost for 
students.
  On behalf of the great State of Oklahoma, I commend UCO and OU for 
making the ``Best for Vets: Colleges 2015'' list and salute their 
steadfast efforts to provide quality education for those who have 
defended our freedoms at home and abroad.

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