Points of Pride

In 2007, the city of Rochester was named one of the top ten most livable cities in America by the Places Ranked Almanac in their 25th anniversary edition. Rochester placed sixth on the list, which evaluates several criteria in making its selections: local economy, recreation, housing, education, health care, transportation, ambiance, crime, and climate.

The Institute of Optics was founded in 1929 as the nation's first educational program devoted exclusively to optics. It is widely considered one of the nation's premier optics schools and is a leader in basic optical research and theory.

The Laboratory for Laser Energetics’ 60-beam OMEGA laser is the world's most powerful fusion laser.

More people in Rochester have been immunized against bird flu than in any other community in the world, thanks to the University’s role testing bird-flu vaccines. In 2007, a $26 million NIH grant established the University of Rochester Medical Center as one of three national research centers for bird flu and pandemic flu.

The Eastman School of Music is home to more than 20 student ensembles, including the Eastman Wind Ensemble, the first of its kind in the country and pioneering force in the symphonic wind band movement.

The Memorial Art Gallery has one of the most balanced collections of American art outside of New York City, ranging from the Colonial period to works from living artists. In 2006, the Galley unveiled its reinstalled American Collection. The new installation reflects the major changes that occurred in American art as the young country began to loosen its European ties and expand its notions of the role of art as a reflector and creator of a developing culture.

Faculty and alumni of the University make up nearly one-quarter of the scientists on the board advising NASA in the development of the James Webb Space Telescope, which will replace the Hubble Space Telescope in 2011.

The University's a cappella ensembles are among the best in the nation. The Yellowjackets celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2006. The Midnight Ramblers finished third in the 2005 International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA). And Vocal Point, the University’s all-female a cappella group, won Best Soloist and Best Arrangement at the 2005 ICCAs.

The 18th century Italian Baroque organ, housed in the Memorial Art Gallery and owned by the Eastman School of Music, is the only full-size antique Italian organ in North America. Weekly organ concerts fill the Gallery’s Herdle Fountain Court with music of the past.

The Yellowjackets play in the University Athletic Association. The women's basketball team has played in three of the last four NCAA Division III tournaments, finishing in the Final Four in 2004. The men's basketball team has played in the last three NCAA championship tournaments, making it to the championship game in 2005. Steven Goodridge became Rochester's first NCAA champion in golf in 2006. The softball team won its first bid to the NCAA playoffs in 2007.

Nobel Prizes

2002: Masatoshi Koshiba ’55 (PhD), Nobel Prize in Physics.
1997: Steven Chu ’70, Nobel Prize in Physics.
1993: Robert Fogel, member of the economics faculty in the 1960s and ’70s, Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences.
1976: Carleton Gajdusek, ’43, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
1959: Arthur Kornberg, ’41M (MD), Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
1955: Vincent du Vigneaud, ’27 (PhD), physiologist; Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
1943: Henrick Dam, senior research associate at Strong Memorial Hospital, 1942-45; Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
1934: George Whipple, founding dean of School of Medicine and Dentistry, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

Pulitzer Prizes

2004: Steven Hahn ’73 in history, for his book: A Nation Under Our Feet: Black Political Struggles in the Rural South from Slavery to the Great Migration
1996: George Walker, ’56E (DMA) in music, for his composition, "Lilacs for Voice and Orchestra"
1993: Christopher Rouse, Eastman professor of composition, in music for his "Trombone Concerto"
1983: Galway Kinnell, ’49 (MA) in poetry
1979: Joseph Schwantner, Eastman faculty, in music
1975: Dominick Argento, ’58E (DMA), in music
1968: Anthony Hecht, English faculty, in poetry
1962: Robert Ward, ’39E (BM), in music
1960: George Abbott, ’11, in drama
1959: John La Montaine, ’39E (BA), in music
1952: Gail Kubik, ’34E (BM), in music
1944: Howard Hanson, Eastman faculty and director from 1924 to 1964, in music

Notable Alumni

Francis Bellamy, wrote the original Pledge of Allegiance, published in 1892
Myles Brand, president of the NCAA
Renee Fleming, Grammy Award-winning operatic soprano
Robert Forster, Academy Award-nominated actor known for his roles in movies such as Jackie Brown
Jeremy Glick, 1993 alumnus and member of Alpha Delta Phi fraternity, who died aboard United Flight 93 on September 11, 2001, after he and others attempted to overtake the hijackers
Michael Kanfer, Academy Award visual effects artists whose work appears in Titanic, Apollo 13, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, and Superman Returns
Robert Keegan, CEO of Goodyear
Mitch Miller, conductor, record producer, and TV producer best known from "Sing Along with Mitch" programs in the 1950s
Debra Jo Rupp, actress best known for her role in TV’s "That '70s Show"
David Satcher, former U.S. Surgeon General
Andy Thomas, CEO of Heineken USA
William Warfield, internationally acclaimed bass-baritone known for his work in Show Boat and Porgy and Bess

Fulbright Scholars (2007-08)

Ayman Bekdash ’08 (History, Political Science, Neuroscience): Jordan
Alexandra "Sasha" Bilow ’07 (French and Spanish): France
Colin Brown ’07 (Political Science): Austria
Philip Brune PhD (Mechanical Engineering): Italy
Jill Thorson ’05 (Spanish): Spain
Michael Potere ’08 (Political Science): Malaysia
Jay Kacherski, ESM MA’05 (Guitar Performance): Mexico
John Koslovsky ESM PhD ’09 (Music Theory): Austria
Adam Peithmann ESM ’07 (Organ Performance): Germany
Anton (TJ) Grasch ESM ’07 (Voice): Austria

Last modified: Monday, 27-Aug-2007 15:33:16 EDT