College Celebrates 50th Anniversary with Time Capsule Burial Ceremony
Aiken Technical College (Aiken Tech) celebrated its 50th anniversary on September 1 with a time capsule burial ceremony.
The ceremony began with a group photo of the attendees, followed by remarks led by Aiken Tech President Forest E. Mahan, Ph.D.
“We gather today, September 1, to celebrate the College for the remarkable accomplishments the institution has shared with Aiken County, the CSRA region, alumni, retirees, employees, and students to improve our lives and the educational strength of the community,” Dr. Mahan said.
The college’s 50th-anniversary committee collected items representing the college’s 50 years of educating minds, changing lives, and enriching communities. More than 30 items were enclosed in the time capsule, including:
- A letter from Dr. Mahan
- Draft copy of the preliminary report on the need for the Aiken County Technical Education Center dated May 1969 (Note: The college was founded as Aiken Technical Education Center, and the name was changed in March 1978 to Aiken Technical College.)
- Original copy of the 1973 Reflections yearbook
- Copy of the 1972-1974 academic catalog
- Copy of the college’s admission to members letter from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to Aiken Technical Education Center dated December 15, 1975
- 2012 and 2021 Community Benefit Reports
- Aiken Tech monogrammed cloth face mask
- Copy of the Aiken Tech basketball program history from 1991-2013
- 2022 campus map
- 2022 Commencement Ceremony program and special edition diploma cover
- Printed copy of the group photo taken at the start of the time capsule ceremony
“In the year 2047, during the college’s 75th anniversary, the time capsule will be opened to measure the progress and changes the college has achieved over the decades since its founding and the time capsule was buried…I am confident the contents of the time capsule will provide a glimpse of the history of our beloved Aiken Technical College for future generations to understand and appreciate the college’s evolution, growth, and lasting impact,” said Dr. Mahan.
View footage from the time capsule ceremony at https://youtu.be/vt6kvDuRPh4.
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