Founded by the California senator Leland Stanford and his wife Jane Lathrop Stanford in 1885, its legal name stands as Leland Stanford Junior University in the loving memory of their beloved son who died of typhoid. It was opened in 1891 with the motive “to promote the public welfare by exercising an influence in behalf of humanity and civilization.” The early years were difficult for the university with the death of the founder when Mrs. Stanford had to lead the operations alone. But the University benefactor and trustee Herbert Hoover professionalized the university operations in the 1920s and helped to put Stanford on a sound financial ground.

The university was initiated as a non-sectarian, co-educational and affordable one which teaches both the traditional liberal arts and the technology and engineering in a time where technology was in a phase of changing the USA. Stanford University is set in the heart of Northern California’s dynamic Silicon Valley Covering 8,180 acres and gaining a reputation as one of the largest universities in the US. It consists of 18 interdisciplinary research institutes and seven schools: the Graduate School of Business; School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences; Graduate School of Education; School of Engineering; School of Humanities and Sciences; Law School; and School of Medicine. Stanford University provides a home to the masterminds behind successful establishments such as Google, Yahoo, Nike, Netflix, Hewlett - Packard, Sun Microsystems, Instagram, Charles Schwab and many other technology companies that were founded by and led by Stanford alumni and faculty.

Often called as “billionaire factory”, it is calculated that the Stanford graduates would create one of the world’s largest ten economies if their net worth were counted together. Not only the billionaire brains but also the lovable hearts were shaped by the university which led to the emergence of non-profit organisations like Kiva and SIRUM. Stanford’s campus is now a thriving community of more than 11,000 creative, outstanding and accomplished people from around the world. Nearly all undergraduate and 60 per cent of graduate students live on campus, so it is hardly surprising that student life is rich and diverse, with over 625 organised student groups.

Stanford at present educates more than 16,300 students, 2,180 faculty and 1,800 postdoctoral scholars. Stanford also functions as an international institution, enrolling students from all 50 U.S. states and more than 90 other countries. Sport is popular among students, faculty and staff enjoying state-of-the-art recreational facilities and wellness programmes. The sports teams are called by the unique name “Stanford Cardinal” where the students compete in a variety of club sports, including baseball, football, basketball, and squash. Stanford is a separate culture altogether which is rich in tradition which also shows keenness in protecting creative arts. The campus consists of and two worldclass museums which host regular exhibitions and the organic gardens provide healthy meals.

The lifestyle on the campus has given rise to a unique verbal culture which is the “Stanford speak”, a language only spoken within the boundaries of the campus. Stanford also has a rich tradition of fostering creativity and the arts: there are a vibrant campus arts district and two world-class museums which host regular exhibitions. Eight dining halls, a teaching kitchen, and organic gardens provide the campus community with healthy, sustainable meals. The close-knit communal nature of life on campus has even given rise to “Stanford speak”, a special language only spoken on campus.

Most of the credit goes to the performance of the alumni of the campus which has led to the reason or the success behind being ranked as the 2nd in the list of the QS ranking. But on the whole when you give thought it is not just the achievement of the individual but also the efforts of many others including the staff as well as space and the chances given by the university, for the students to grow plus the constant encouragement which backs up the hard efforts. Stanford University’s official seal contains the wordings “Die Luft der Freiheitweht” which is written in German translates to English as “the wind of freedom blows” confirming the atmosphere created for the students for education as well as for fresh ideas and inventions.

Madhusha Dep