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Penn State celebrates its heritage |
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Penn State, the lone land-grant university in Pennsylvania, is proud of its heritage and its contributions to the states higher education system.
By
CHRIS TORRES |
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HARRISBURG, Pa – Under the backdrop of LaRouche for President signs, members of the state government and other guests gathered at a press conference in the capital rotunda to celebrate Penn State University and its 150 years as Pennsylvania’s lone land-grant university. Lieutenant Governor Catherine Baker-Knoll was among the guests at the press conference, which was hosted by Representative Lynn Herman of Centre County. The press conference featured notable speakers including PSU President Graham Spanier. After the press conference, the state legislature was expected to pass two resolutions designating PSU as Pennsylvania’s land-grant university. The term land-grant university goes back many years in Pennsylvania and the country. Land-grant universities were established in the mid 1800’s to offer affordable education and an outlet for agricultural research. Spanier said that the term ‘land-grant’ may be a throw back, but its place in higher education is anything but old. “Before the establishment of land-grant schools, a college education was out of reach to all but the children of the well heeled,” Dr. Spanier said. “Many of you in this Rotunda, including many of you whose names are on the House and Senate resolutions to my left and right are, like me, children of immigrants who would not have been able to benefit from higher education if not for the creation of public colleges that have grown out of the land-grant movement.” James S. Broadhurst, vice-chairman of PSU’s board of trustees, said that PSU and its outreach programs have helped millions across the state and around the world. “Like no other institution in this state, Penn State serves as a unifying force that ties individuals and communities together.” Broadhurst said. “Its multiple campuses have been portals of opportunity for many generations of students. And its extension offices in every county of the state have, for nearly 150 years, linked the world’s leading scientists and educators to millions of citizens who rely on PSU to help them make life better.” PSU will celebrate 150 years of education in 2005. Representative Bill DeWeese of Greene County said “I from the western fields of Pennsylvania have always been a Mountaineers fan (West Virginia University) or a Panthers fan (University of Pittsburgh), but Graham Spanier has made me a convert. I am a politician and still love those other schools but I love Penn State.” PSU is Pennsylvania’s largest university educating more than 83,000 students throughout the state. It operates 24 locations throughout the state including its biggest campus, University Park, located in State College. All stories in this magazine are the intellectual property of the individual authors. You may email comments about this story to: cgt111@psu.edu
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