Congratulating Radford University on the 100th anniversary of the university.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1182) congratulating Radford University on the 100th anniversary of the university.

I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 1182 into the Record.

I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1182, which celebrates Radford University for 100 years of leadership and service in higher education. Radford was originally founded in 1910 as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women, tracing its roots back to the expansion of the Virginia public higher education system. While its name and composition has evolved over the years, Radford's commitment to academic excellence has never wavered.

Radford's beautiful 177-acre campus is located in the New River Valley between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains. The university is home to nearly 8,000 undergraduates and over 1,000 graduate students, and these students have access to a diversity of academic and extracurricular programs.

The university is comprised of six undergraduate and one graduate college which offer 153 degree options. Additionally, Radford also has 19 NCAA Division I teams, 400 intramural sports teams, and over 200 clubs and organizations.

Recently, Radford was named one of the Top Up-and-Coming Schools in the Nation by U.S. News & World Report due to its promising and innovative changes it has made over the past few years. Under the leadership of Radford's sixth president, Ms. Penelope Kyle, the university has consistently ranked among the best colleges and universities in the Southeast region. Such recognition shows that the school is continually innovating and striving for success.

For its 100th anniversary, Radford honored its culture of service with a ``Centennial Service Challenge,'' which encouraged students, faculty, and staff to participate in community service in local and regional areas. This event is indicative of Radford's tradition of cultivating graduates who will become meaningful contributors to society and mark a significant milestone in the university's history.

Once again, I congratulate Radford University on its 100-year anniversary and thank Representative Boucher for bringing this bill forward.

Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to recognize the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Boucher), the sponsor of the resolution, for 3 minutes.

(Mr. BOUCHER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I again urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 1182, and I yield back the balance of my time.

I want to thank the gentleman for his leadership in bringing this resolution to the floor and for yielding this time to me today, and I extend thanks also to the gentlelady from Illinois for her assistance with this measure. And I thank both of my colleagues for their very generous statements on behalf of Radford University this afternoon.

H.R. 1182 is bipartisan legislation congratulating Radford University on its 100th anniversary. The resolution is cosponsored by eight members of our Virginia House delegation, and Senators Webb and Warner have introduced companion legislation which previously has been approved in the Senate.

For a century, Radford University has provided students with an outstanding education, and the university richly deserves congratulations, which we extend today, on that achievement. In that century, nearly 70,000 students have received a Radford education, many of whom have gone on to become leaders in business and government and education, health care, the arts and other areas.

Radford University was chartered on March 10, 1910, as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Radford with the mission of preparing teachers; and it was renamed in 1924 as Radford State Teachers College, in 1944 as the Women's Division of Virginia Polytechnic Institute, and in 1964 as Radford College. The school became Radford University in 1979, the name that it proudly bears today.

Today, Radford University is known for its strong leadership and relationships between faculty and students and the commitment to service that exists and pervades the student body. The school offers 153 undergraduate and graduate programs and strong research, service learning, and preprofessional programs.

Radford University is located in my congressional district, but its achievements bring pride not just to our region but to citizens across Virginia.

The university graduates reside in communities throughout the Nation, who share in the congratulations which the Congress today formally extends to Radford University on its 100th anniversary.

I thank my colleagues for their assistance in bringing this measure to the floor, and I urge its approval by the House.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1182, congratulating Radford University on its 100th anniversary.

Radford University was founded in 1910 as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Radford. Classes began in September of 1913, and in 1979, the school became Radford University. During 2010, Radford is celebrating its centennial anniversary with numerous programs and events. On March 24, the university observed the Centennial Charter Day Celebration.

Located in Radford, Virginia, Radford University is organized into six undergraduate colleges and one college of graduate and extended education. Radford University aims to create a challenging, supportive, and engaging educational culture that is anchored in the liberal arts tradition and is ethically responsible to the needs of the 21st century global society. The university has more than 200 clubs and student organizations and competes in 19 NCAA athletics.

In addition, Radford has a national reputation for excellent academics. In 2007, Radford unveiled ``7-17, Forging a Bold New Future,'' with a goal of establishing Radford as one of the top 50 master degree-granting universities in the Nation by 2017. In 2009, the university was ranked in the South's top 25 master's level public universities and named one of the Top Up-and-Coming Schools by U.S. News & World Report.

I am honored to congratulate Radford University on the occasion of its 100th anniversary and to recognize the university for 100 years of excellence in higher education. And I extend my congratulations to the university, the faculty, the staff, the students, and the alumni.

I urge my colleagues to support the resolution, and I reserve the balance of my time.

I would yield back the balance of my time.