The one sculpture that always caught my eye on campus was “The Ascent of Humanity” in front of the Manderino Library. Containing 15 bronze sculptures, all 8 to 10 feet tall! This sculpture used to be on the side of the Duda World Cultures building before it was taken down and replaced with the Duda we all know and love in 2007.

With the sculpture right on the side of the old Duda building, it was a challenge for them to keep it intact when they took the old building down. With the assistance of Dr. Armenti and the sculpture, Alan Cottrill was able to prevent any damage to the sculpture.

Alan Cottrill, an artist from Washington, Pennsylvania, designed and assembled the sculpture. He began sculpting after being involved in a motorcycle accident and founded a pizza shop called Four Star Pizza. He continues to sculpt to this day.

The sculpture itself represents different times in history, starting with a Cro-Magnon man, the earliest form of modern humans in Europe, and ending with a female astronaut. Originally built to represent the growth of Cal U, it now represents PennWest as a whole. Also, it is meant to honor excellence, knowledge, wisdom, responsibility, caring, and humanity.