Venkat Kolluri

Alumni SCI '02

In the fall of 1993, I arrived at the University of Pittsburgh as a first-year PhD student, completely unaware that the Cathedral of Learning would play host to some of the most vivid memories of my life. My graduate student office was located on the ninth floor, offering a commanding view of Schenley Park. That October, I witnessed a masterclass in Western Pennsylvania's unpredictable weather right from my desk. In the span of less than an hour, I watched the temperature plummet from a sweltering 90-plus degrees down to a crisp 52 degrees. Watching that dramatic, rapid shift from the safety of the Cathedral's historic stone walls was unforgettable. But the true magic happened later that semester. Standing on the lawn right outside the Cathedral, I experienced the very first snowfall of my life. As a new international student, watching the flakes blanket the campus against the backdrop of the Cathedral was absolutely mind blowing. The Cathedral wasn't just a place of study for me; it was the backdrop for my introduction to a whole new world.