Aiken Tech kicks off 50th anniversary celebration with time capsule burial

Stephanie Hill, Aiken Standard, S.C.
·4 min read

Sep. 1—Aiken Technical College is celebrating its golden anniversary.

The school kicked off its 50th anniversary celebration on Thursday, Sept. 1, by burying a time capsule. Aiken Tech President Dr. Forest Mahan told faculty and staff members at the event that the school is celebrating a special accomplishment.

"More than 50 years ago a group of like minded Aiken County community leaders came together to envision the Aiken Technical Education Center," Mahan said. "On Friday, Sept. 1, 1972, their vision became a reality and the center opened with 177 students. We assemble today to give back in a small measure a portion of what the college has given to us and to share our collective prayer for its bright future, as bright as its current and past."

The plaque on top of the time capsule is inscribed with the following message: "This time capsule was buried here Sept. 1, 2022 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Aiken Technical College. To be opened in 25 years September 2047."

When the time capsule is reopened in 2047, Mahan said those at the college will be able to see the progress and changes that have been achieved over the decades. Faculty, staff and students were invited to contribute items to bury in the time capsule.

Some of the items in the time capsule include a copy of the Aiken Standard dated Sept. 1, 2022; a commencement program from May 3, 2022; a group photo taken at the ceremony; a 50th anniversary Sept. 29 celebration invitation; a lapel pin; student donations of SWAG bags; Aiken Tech clothing; a campus map from 2022; a letter from Mahan; an inaugural reflections yearbook from 1973 and more.

Mahan said a time capsule that's positioned in a prominent location would give people a chance to see where the school was 25 years ago.

"We wanted it to reflect, not just what we've been through in the last couple of years, but the first 50 years of the college. Our goal is to commemorate our past, but then really zero in on what we want to do in the future," he said.

The future is looking bright for the college with plans underway for a new image. Aiken Tech recently announced a new logo and brand which will be on signs throughout the campus. There is also work being done on some of the buildings.

"We have a couple of older buildings coming down in the next year and then we have two new buildings, if all goes according to schedule, the new nursing building and also a partnership with Aiken County Public School District to build a new career and technology center. So we've got to solidify those plans. That will be an ongoing process for at least another two or three years," Mahan said.

As for how it feels to be president during the event, Mahan said it was "pretty amazing."

"I'm a history major, so I really enjoy looking back at the past but also making sure we keep an eye on where we are headed in the future," he said. "To be here, especially as we're coming out of COVID-19, the last couple of years have just been really challenging. So it's these types of events, to be able to get everybody together to celebrate what they do for the community and it just gives everybody a chance to reengage because for so long every meeting was done through Zoom or Teams. So now to be able to be in person again really make a significant difference for the college."

Aiken Tech will hold an invitation-only event later this month to celebrate its 50th anniversary and to thank people for their support over the years.

"Normally we do an annual fall fundraiser for our foundation, but this year we're going to provide the party," Mahan said. "We want to thank the community. We've invited back alumni, we've invited back past leaders, we've invited the delegation members and community members to come and celebrate what Aiken Technical College has been able to do the last half century and we couldn't have done it without the support of so many different people in the community."

Along with the anniversary, Aiken Tech held its Day of Giving on Thursday for 19 hours and 72 minutes, according to the school. This is in honor of the founding of the college in 1972. Donations were accepted from 3:47 a.m. through 11:59 p.m. on Thursday. Beth LaClair, director of Aiken Technical College Foundation, said anyone can make a donation.

She added that the funds raised on Thursday will go to the main scholarship fund, which funds the Presidential Scholarship and that any major can receive it."