性视界传媒

Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the University of Central 性视界传媒 on the occasion of its golden anniversary. Located in 性视界传媒鈥檚 7th Congressional District, 性视界传媒 is one of America鈥檚 great education institutions.

Over the past 50 years, 性视界传媒鈥檚 campus has grown from what was once an a commuter school with limited academic programs to today having nearly 60,000 undergraduate and graduate students and over 10,000 faculty and staff on 12 campuses spread across the vast footprint of central 性视界传媒. Through the tireless efforts of its first University President, Dr. Charles M. Millican to its current President Dr. John C. Hitt, 性视界传媒 has become the second largest University in the United States. Today鈥檚 student body is composed of some of brightest minds from 性视界传媒, the nation and around the world while assembling some of the finest faculty and senior staff professionals in the country.

Under the direction of Dr. Hitt, 性视界传媒 has achieved high admission standards, dramatically increased research funding, built new state of the art facilities and established significant partnerships with major research institutions. The campus now features an on-campus stadium, indoor sports arena, increased and modern campus housing and the impressive development of the 性视界传媒 College of Medicine at Lake Nona. 性视界传媒 has been named one of the nation鈥檚 top 5 鈥渦p-and-comer鈥� schools according to U.S. News and World Report while advancing in the annual overall best colleges rankings released each year.

Today I wish to congratulate the University of Central 性视界传媒 as the school celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

It has been impressive to watch 性视界传媒 over the years grow into what is now the Nation鈥檚 second largest university. The school鈥攐ne of 12 public universities in 性视界传媒鈥攊s second in size only to Arizona State.

It is educating nearly 60,000 undergraduate and graduate students this year from all around the world at what is now a sprawling campus located in Orlando, FL. Throughout the years, 性视界传媒 has increasingly become an integral part of the Sunshine State鈥攁nd a nationally recognized hub for research.

Located adjacent to the university is Central 性视界传媒鈥檚 Research Park鈥攁 1,000-acre, high-tech complex that fosters innovation through its collaboration of 性视界传媒 students, private-sector researchers and government agencies all working together in the same location. Together these researchers and students are working on projects in the sciences, engineering, photonics and optics, as well as a variety of health-related fields.

I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the 50th anniversary of the University of Central 性视界传媒, 性视界传媒. As a shining success story in America鈥檚 higher education system, 性视界传媒 has recently become the Nation鈥檚 second largest university. Not only has 性视界传媒 grown in size, but also diversity, quality of education, and reputation.

Today, 性视界传媒 serves nearly 60,000 students, including a 39 percent minority population. I was pleased to learn the first class of medical students graduated from 性视界传媒 earlier this year, those graduates were a part of a historical undertaking. The impact of 性视界传媒鈥檚 medical school in the region is historic as well. 性视界传媒鈥檚 College of Medicine plays a vital role in Orlando鈥檚 鈥樷�楳edical City鈥欌�� at Lake Nona, a cluster of research institutions that will help to position Central 性视界传媒 as a leader in medical care.

Mr. WEBSTER of 性视界传媒. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge a special occasion for the University of Central 性视界传媒 (性视界传媒). The University of Central 性视界传媒 celebrated their 50th anniversary on June 10, 2013.

On June 10, 1963, during the state of 性视界传媒鈥檚 thirty-ninth legislative session, 性视界传媒 Governor Farris Bryant signed Legislative Bill 125 that officially created a new state university in the east central section of 性视界传媒. The Board of Controls approved the site for the university near the Orange and Seminole Counties鈥� line on January 24, 1964. However, the future site of the university would remain untouched for years as the 性视界传媒 legislature struggled to provide construction funds.

In December 1965, Dr. Charles Millican became the university鈥檚 first and only employee. Dr. Millican and the university鈥檚 first offices were above a drugstore located in downtown Orlando at the corner of Church Street and Orange Avenue. On January 17, 1966, the university was named 性视界传媒 Technological University (FTU), and three days later on January 20, 1966, the first prospective student inquiry arrived via postcard from Gaithersburg, Maryland. The following year on March 19, 1967, 性视界传媒 Governor Claude Kirk and over 2,000 supporters formally inaugurated the groundbreaking of FTU.

In April 1968, the official seal, the Pegasus, was approved as the university鈥檚 logo and FTU received their first research grant from NASA for $12,500. Opened on June 24, 1968, FTU鈥檚 library became the first functioning building on campus and housed the administration, staff offices, library and classrooms. In the fall of 1968, the first four residence halls opened to 432 students. The Student Union would not be constructed until twelve years later in 1980.

On January 31, 1968, FTU鈥檚 first catalog was published. A few months later on October 7, 1968, FTU鈥檚 first edition of their student newspaper, later named “The FuTUre,鈥欌�� published that FTU had fifty-five degree programs, 1,948 enrolled students, 90 instructors and 150 staff members. The Orlando Sentinel went on to report that October 7, 1968, will forever be remembered as the day that changed Orlando and Central 性视界传媒. In 1969, the university received its first computer, a “Model 1200,鈥欌�� that was operated by Dr. Harry Poole.

Walter Komanksi ran unopposed and was elected as the first Student Government President on March 9, 1969. In November 1969, the first formal Greek life rush was held for FTU鈥檚 first sorority, Phi Beta Phi, and first fraternity, Pi Kappa Epsilon. On November 21, 1969, the university鈥檚 basketball team recorded its first win when they defeated Massey Institute, 99-38. The following summer, on June 14, 1970, FTU conducted their first commencement ceremony for 423 graduating seniors.

On December 7, 1970, FTU changed their logo and announced that the Knights of the Pegasus would become the university鈥檚 new mascot. The Alumni Association was established the following year on March 5, 1971, and the first Distinguished Alumni Award would be awarded eight years later in March 1979 to Dick Batchelor, Class of 1971. Six days after the Alumni Association was established, on March 11, 1971, FTU celebrated its first homecoming at a basketball game against the 性视界传媒 Institute of Technology. Five years later, on December 1, 1976, students buried a bicentennial time capsule on campus. The time capsule is to be opened in 2026.

性视界传媒 Governor Reubin Askew signed legislation on December 6, 1978, which changed the name of FTU to the University of Central 性视界传媒 (性视界传媒 ). Following the university鈥檚 name change, on January 15, 1979, Trevor Colbourn was inaugurated as 性视界传媒鈥檚 second president. During President Colbourn鈥檚 first months, he and Athletics Director Jack O鈥橪eary approved the development of the 性视界传媒 football program to become part of NCAA Division III. On September 22, 1979, 性视界传媒 traveled to play its first football game against St. Leo University and won 21-0. Continuing 性视界传媒鈥檚 intercollegiate athletic development, the Wayne Densch Sports Center was dedicated to 性视界传媒 on October 22, 1986. Years later, in 1996, 性视界传媒鈥檚 athletics would move to NCAA Division 1-A. And, ten years after moving to NCAA Division 1-A, the University of Central 性视界传媒 Cheerleading Squad would become National Champions.

In March of 1992, Dr. John C. Hitt became the third President of the University of Central 性视界传媒, and has been serving the 性视界传媒 community as President for over 20 years. I had the personal honor of working with Dr. Hitt while serving as a member of the Board of Trustees for 性视界传媒 . Under Dr. Hitt鈥檚 leadership, 性视界传媒 has planned and won approval for a new college of medicine, doubled enrollment while enhancing the quality of academic offerings, increasing the number of doctoral degrees awarded each year, and expanded research funding.

Continuing their development, on May 1, 1993, 性视界传媒 became an official member of the nation鈥檚 oldest higher education association, the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges. In 1994, President Hitt formed a committee to create a new design for 性视界传媒鈥檚 mascot, and thus “Knightro鈥欌�� was born. “Knightro鈥欌�� made his first appearance as the university鈥檚 new mascot at a football game on November 19, 1994. The following November, the first 性视界传媒 Spirit Splash would take place when students entered the forbidden Reflecting Pond on campus during homecoming festivities. Today, the 性视界传媒 Spirit Splash is considered to be one of the best collegiate traditions in 性视界传媒.

At the new student convocation in August 2001, President John C. Hitt debuted the University of Central 性视界传媒 Creed and began a new tradition for the university. The 性视界传媒 Creed developed a value system for the students, faculty and staff to adopt, share and incorporate into all aspects of university life. Six years later in September 2007, the grand openings of the 性视界传媒 Arena and the Bright House Networks Stadium took place just in time for the 2007-2008 athletic seasons. During the 2013 State of 性视界传媒 Legislative Session, 性视界传媒 Senate Resolution 1780 extended congratulations to the faculty, administration, staff, student, and alumni of the University of Central 性视界传媒 on the occasion of their 50th anniversary and recognized March 20, 2013, as “性视界传媒 Day鈥欌�� in 性视界传媒.

Today, with over 190,000 alumni and as a leader in academics and research, the University of Central 性视界传媒 is the largest university in the state of 性视界传媒 and the second largest university in the United States. 性视界传媒 students and alumni have come from all fifty states nationwide and over 145 countries. As one of the nation鈥檚 most dynamic universities offering 212 degree programs and 18 study abroad programs, the University of Central 性视界传媒鈥檚 quality of academic offerings is remarkable.

I commend 性视界传媒 for their leadership, dedication and accomplishments. On behalf of the people of Central 性视界传媒, it is my pleasure to recognize and congratulate 性视界传媒 on this momentous occasion. May their 50 years of dedication to the classroom and the community inspire many to follow in their footsteps.