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Western Texas College President Dr. Barbara Beebe (seated), WTC bookstore manager Hannah Chaney (left) and marketing director Lorenzo Sands looked at Trailblazer yearbooks to get an idea of what might be buried in a time capsule located in the courtyard. The college will open the time capsule on Nov. 18, 2019 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the vote to establish the Scurry County Junior College District.
A year-long community celebration is being planned to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the formation of the Scurry County Junior College District, which is more commonly known as Western Texas College (WTC).
President Dr. Barbara Beebe, her administrative staff and others are planning events for the next year that will culminate with the opening of a time capsule in the WTC courtyard on Nov. 18, 2019. On the 10th anniversary of the college, a time capsule was buried and the plaque states it shall be opened on the 50th anniversary of the college.
The college is starting the yearlong celebration by including a countdown to the time capsule opening on its website as well as a golden anniversary logo designed by marketing director Lorenzo Sands.
“I am excited to see what is in that time capsule,” Beebe said, adding the Scurry County Museum may have documentation of what was buried.
While the 1979 time capsule will be unearthed, the college is accepting ideas for what should be included in a time capsule that will be buried by the main walkway near the museum. Beebe said she would like to see a cursive written note, cell phone and a taped message from the president describing the current state of the college.
“But we want the community to get involved. We want your ideas,” she said. “This yearlong celebration will be for the entire Snyder and Scurry County community. We will welcome any and all suggestions.”
To make suggestions, call 574-6503.
During the unveiling, Beebe said the 2019 distinguished alumni will be announced.
“We just thought that would be the perfect time to do it,” she said. “We will have the community here and students will be here.”
While the opening and burying of time capsules will be the finale of the celebration, Beebe said several activities are in the planning stages.
She said one of the first community events will be a 1960s era dance, since the coordinating board of the Texas College and University System approved holding an election to create a junior college district in Scurry County in October 1969. One month later, Scurry County voters approved the measure.
“We want people to show up dressed in 1960s attire. And the music of that era was so good,” Beebe said. “It will be the perfect way to begin the celebration because so many people have been touched by this college.”
The museum will host an exhibit of WTC history for the first four months of 2019 and Beebe plans to hold events at the college’s facilities in town — College on the Square and the Opportunity Center.
The college is also planning to name the 50 most influential people who have ties to WTC. This includes presidents, instructors and students, Beebe said.
The 2019 graduating class will also honor the anniversary, Beebe said. The college will provide each graduate with blue, green and gold cords to represent the school colors and golden anniversary.
“I think that will be really cool and a way to get our current students involved,” Beebe said.
Details of additional activities are in the planning stages and will be announced throughout the year, she said.