THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY FRANKEL, MAHER, BAKER, BARBIN, BOBACK, BRENNAN, V. BROWN, CALTAGIRONE, CAUSER, COHEN, D. COSTA, DALEY, DEASY, DeWEESE, ELLIS, EVERETT, FABRIZIO, GABLER, GEIST, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GOODMAN, HARHAI, HENNESSEY, HESS, HORNAMAN, KIRKLAND, KORTZ, KULA, MAJOR, MANN, MARKOSEK, MARSHALL, MILLARD, MILLER, MIRABITO, MURT, MUSTIO, O'NEILL, PARKER, QUINN, READSHAW, ROCK, ROEBUCK, ROSS, SACCONE, SAINATO, M. SMITH, SONNEY, VEREB, VULAKOVICH, WATSON, YOUNGBLOOD AND FLECK, MARCH 12, 2012

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, MARCH 12, 2012  

A RESOLUTION

Honoring the University of Pittsburgh on the occasion of the

225th anniversary of its founding.

WHEREAS, The University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) began in a

humble log cabin in 1787 and is celebrating its 225th

anniversary this year; and

WHEREAS, Pitt has evolved into an internationally recognized

center of learning and research; and

WHEREAS, Pitt ranks fifth among all United States

universities in competitive grants awarded by the National

Institutes of Health (NIH), exceeding $800 million this year;

and

WHEREAS, Research funding alone supports approximately 29,000

jobs and represents a return on investment of nearly $6 to every

$1 invested by the Commonwealth in the University of Pittsburgh;

and

WHEREAS, Pitt undergraduates have won four Rhodes

Scholarships in the last seven years. In addition, since 1995,

Pitt students were awarded six Marshall Scholarships, five

Truman Scholarships, five Udall Scholarships, one Churchill

Scholarship, thirty-five Goldwater Scholarships and one Gates

Cambridge Scholarship; and

WHEREAS, In four of the past five years, Pitt has been ranked

in the "Very Top Cluster" of the nation's public research

universities; and

WHEREAS, Pitt currently enrolls more than 26,000 Pennsylvania

residents and provides those Pennsylvania students with

substantial savings in tuition costs; and

WHEREAS, Pitt employs more than 13,500 Pennsylvania residents

on its five campuses; and

WHEREAS, Pitt has approximately 294,000 alumni residing in

Pennsylvania; and

WHEREAS, Pitt contributes more than $2 billion in spending

annually to the region's economy; and

WHEREAS, Pitt is ranked first among public institutions by

"Saviors of Our Cities: A Survey of Best College and University

Civic Partnerships" for dramatically strengthening the economy

and quality of life in its home communities; and

WHEREAS, Pitt was recently named a "best value in public

higher education" by Kiplinger's and The Princeton Review; and

WHEREAS, In addition to the economic contributors, the 

University of Pittsburgh adds richness to the Commonwealth

through its broad array of athletic, cultural education, health

and social programs; and

WHEREAS, More than 4,000 students participate in community

service projects annually; and

WHEREAS, The University of Pittsburgh produced 37 new United

States patents in fiscal year 2011, bringing Pitt's 15-year

total to 441. Since fiscal year 2003, Pitt technologies have

formed the basis of 53 start-up companies; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor the

University of Pittsburgh on the occasion of the 225th

anniversary of its founding.