University of virginia

Thomas Jefferson was perhaps the greatest person the Enlightenment produced, a universal man in the full Renaissance sense, a man who wanted to explore every branch of knowledge, who turned hand and mind wherever interest or necessity led him. Of all his many achievements there were three he wished to be remembered, and which are engraved in his tombstone: "Author of the Declaration of American Independence, of the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom and Father of the University of Virginia." The University of Virginia provides the irrefutable proof of Jefferson's talents, indeed genius, as an architect: few buildings in America cast such immediate and unforgettable spell. Jefferson had begun thinking of founding a University as an academic village. In his enthusiasm Jefferson began work before the state legislature gave official backing. In 1818 the State Assembly appointed a commission with Jefferson as chairman to select a site and draw up plans for the design and organization of the University. The first 68 students arrived for the opening of classes on March 7, 1825 —just 16 months before Jefferson's death.

United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland

The Academy was founded in 1845. The United States Naval Academy prepares midshipmen for service as commissioned officers in the U.S. Navy or Marine Corps. Today 4.500 men and women are enrolled there. The midshipmen learn to shoot, to sail, to organize their time. Physical tests, drills, and athletics bring them to top physical condition. They spend summers at sea and naval and marine installations learning about the ships, submarines, and aircraft that the midshipmen will someday command. They visit foreign lamds to learn something of the people, places and problems that make up the complex world today.

During the academic year, midshipmen devote their major efforts to their studies. They also find time for a wide range of extracurricular activities. They participate in seventy-three clubs and organizations that range from musical groups to scuba diving to dramatics.

The Naval Academy graduates who have completed two years of commissioned service may apply to continue their studies toward a master's degree. Fifteen midshipmen each year may have the opportunity to attend medical school after graduation from the Naval Academy in preparation for careers Navy doctors.

The Naval Academy offers superb faculties to support the academic and athletic development of every midshipman several new academic buildings have opened in recent years, and older classrooms, labs, and athletics faculties have been completely renovated to provide modern, comfortable area for learning. Among its many faculties are propulsion laboratory, subsonic and supersonic wind tunnels, 120- foot and 380- foot towing tanks, a coastal engineering basin, a subcritical nuclear reactor, an oceanographic research vessel, a field laboratory, and weather station. Fully equipped laboratories for chemistry, physics, engineering, oceanography, and foreign languages are available to midshipmen.

The Naval Academy has a goal of training midshipmen to be effective leaders and managers in an information technology- oriented Navy and Marine Corps.