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College - Univ. of Pennsylvania I am so proud to see my school keep being of the top universities troughout United States and even the world. As one of the oldest Ivy League member, Penn's definitely not a typical ivy tho.Scroll down to see "A QUICK VEW", "PENN'S HERITAGE", as well as a brief biography of Penn's great founder, a man as a legend, Benjamin Franklin. Here's also the latest "America's Best Colleges 2005" by USNews & World Report. At the University of Pennsylvania, you'll find a historic, Ivy League school with highly selective admissions and a history of innovation in interdisciplinary education and scholarship. You'll also find a picturesque campus amidst a dynamic city and a world-class research institution. :::Intellectual rigor and a practical outlook::: :::Top students::: :::A singular campus::: :::A vibrant city::: :::Crossing boundaries::: :::Powerful research::: Penn's innovative approach to education began with a revolutionary concept. In 1749 in Philadelphia, Benjamin Franklin presented his vision of a school in a pamphlet titled Proposals for the Education of Youth in Pensilvania. Unlike other American Colonial colleges, the new school would not focus on education for the clergy. Instead, it would prepare students for lives of business and public service. The proposed program of study would become the nation's first modern liberal arts curriculum. Doors to the University opened in 1751, when the first classes were held. More than 250 years later, Penn continues to blaze trails in education. It is home to the nation's first medical school, which added as early as 1874, a university teaching hospital. The University is also the birthplace of technological invention. In 1946, Penn introduced ENIAC, the world's first electronic, large-scale, general-purpose digital computer. In addition to ushering in new ideas, Penn has welcomed countless leaders through its doors. Nine signers of the Declaration of Independence and eleven signers of the Constitution are associated with the University. Eadweard James Muybridge, who pioneered motion photography, began his experiments under the University's auspices. Since 1923, fifteen Penn scholars have been awarded Nobel Prizes. In 1994 Judith Rodin became the first woman to be inaugurated President of an Ivy League institution. Penn's heritage is likewise reflected in its environs, where its 269-acre, urban campus boasts many notable landmarks. These include Houston Hall, the nation's first student union; the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, one of the finest museums of its kind in the country; Franklin Field, the oldest collegiate football field still in use and the country's first double-decked college stadium; plus buildings by noted architects Frank Furness, Louis Kahn, Eero Saarinen, Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown. Recognized as America's first university, Penn remains today a world-renowned center for the creation and dissemination of knowledge. It serves as a model for research colleges and universities throughout the world. Benjamin Franklin is well-known for his many inventions, including bifocals, the lightning rod and the Franklin stove. We like to think of Penn as one of Franklin's biggest and best inventions—and one that continues to flourish centuries after its founding. In his "Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in Pensilvania" (1749), Franklin outlined a progressive college: one that would offer practical as well as classical instruction in order to prepare youth for real-world pursuits. Franklin’s spirit of free inquiry and learning in the service of society continues to guide the University today. Franklin (1706-1790) was a true Renaissance man, known for his devotion to education, support for intellectual pursuits and commitment to the public good. He was a successful entrepreneur and printer, and could boast a remarkable number of “firsts” to his name, including publishing America’s first political cartoon in the "Pennsylvania Gazette". Franklin lived his dictum: “Energy and persistence conquer all things,” whether he was launching civic service projects to pave, clean and light Philadelphia’s streets or founding America’s first subscription library. He is also remembered as a respected statesman who argued in 1754 for a plan to unite the colonies and later co-drafted the Declaration of Independence and signed the Constitution. Franklin’s influence reached overseas, establishing his reputation as a great international ambassador. Franklin asserted, “Either write things worthy reading; or do things worth the writing.” As we approach the 300th anniversary of his birth in 2006, Franklin is remembered as both a skilled writer and a prolific doer, whose vision and projects still resonate throughout Philadelphia and the nation. The links below will guide you through some of this remarkable man’s achievements and contributions.
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