Pallone and Menendez Urge President Obama to Deliver Keynote at Rutgers University’s Commencement in 2016
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) and Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) led members of the New Jersey Congressional Delegation in sending a letter to President Obama urging him to accept Rutgers University’s invitation to deliver the keynote address for its 250th Anniversary Commencement in 2016. Rutgers University, which is located in Congressman Pallone’s district, is one of the largest and most prestigious research universities in the nation.
Below is the full text of the letter:
December 23, 2013
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20006
Dear President Obama:
We write to encourage you to accept Rutgers University’s invitation to deliver the keynote address for its 250th Anniversary Commencement in 2016.
Rutgers is one of the largest and most prestigious research universities in the nation. Started as Queens College under the royal charter of George III on November 10, 1766, Rutgers is today a proud land-grant university and member of the Association of American Universities. Founded ten years before the United States was even a country, Rutgers is one of the original nine colonial colleges and the only one to become a flagship state land-grant university.
Rutgers has since grown to employ more than 25,000 faculty and staff in educating more than 65,000 full-time students on three campuses across the State of New Jersey. Rutgers students hail from all 50 states and more than 115 countries, and the university boasts 450,000 living alumni across the globe.
Throughout the university’s long and distinguished history, Rutgers students and scholars have attained significant achievements in a variety of areas. In 1869, New Brunswick served as the location for the first intercollegiate football game, in which Rutgers bested Princeton 6-4. In 1952, Rutgers Professor Selman Waksman won the Nobel Prize for Medicine for research that led to the discovery of streptomycin, the first antibiotic effective against tuberculosis. Additionally, Rutgers students have been named Rhodes Scholars, Fulbright Fellows, Gates Cambridge Scholars, Churchill Scholars, Truman Scholars, Woodrow Wilson Scholars, and Udall Scholars. The faculty includes MacArthur “Genius Award” winners, National Medal of Science and National Medal of Technology recipients, Pulitzer Prize winners, and dozens of National Academies members.
Rutgers prides itself on its commitment to diversity and has been recognized as one of the most diverse universities in the nation. Additionally, Rutgers is committed to introducing first-generation, low-income, and academically motivated students to the promises and opportunities of a college education through its Rutgers Future Scholars Program.
We are pleased to come together to support Rutgers University’s invitation for you to address the graduates of the 250th anniversary commencement. Your attendance and participation will make this important milestone in Rutgers’ history all the more memorable and auspicious.
Sincerely,
FRANK PALLONE, JR. ROBERT MENENDEZ CORY BOOKER
Member of Congress United States Senator United States Senator
DONALD PAYNE, JR. RODNEY FRELINGHUYSEN
Member of Congress Member of Congress
ROBERT ANDREWS LEONARD LANCE
Member of Congress Member of Congress
ALBIO SIRES FRANK LOBIONDO
Member of Congress Member of Congress
RUSH HOLT JON RUNYAN
Member of Congress Member of Congress
BILL PASCRELL, JR.
Member of Congress