Senior Rayce Septer uses the word “demisemiseptcentennial” like it’s part of his everyday vocabulary. On Wednesday, it truly was.
Rayce, fellow Student Alumni Association (SAA) member Kyla Stockdale, also a senior, and a total of 20 ’Berg students and staff members were part of a group who helped bury a time capsule on the site of the new Student Athletics, Academic, and Recreation Center.
The time capsule and its contents are tied to Heidelberg’s 175th Anniversary – its demisemiseptcentennial – being celebrated throughout 2025. The intent is to dig up and open the time capsule 25 years from now – in 2050 – on the occasion of the bicentennial of Heidelberg’s founding. Its goal is to give future Student Princes, as yet unborn, a glimpse into life as a ‘Berg student in 2025. The expectation is that the students who participated in the time capsule’s burial will return to campus to share in its unearthing.
It was Rayce and Kyla who brought the idea of a time capsule to Ashley Helmstetter, Vice President of Advancement, Alumni, and Community Relations, and one of their SAA advisors. Ashley, along with Dr. Ben Pugno, Director of Student Engagement, organized the collection of ’Berg items to be included.
“We wanted to do something that would put emphasis on the demisemiseptcentennial,” Rayce said. “We wanted to capture the 175th for future students and we thought a time capsule would be a good idea.”
Kyla added, “Our goal was for students to feel like they are a part of it (the 175th), so we put our touches on the time capsule. It’s been really special.”
Speaking of student touches, the majority of the contents were contributed by student organizations, student leaders, those involved in 175th Anniversary event planning, and student-athletes and their teams.
So what’s locked tightly inside the 108-pound, 48-by-40-by-15.5-inch, stainless steel “tomb” emblazoned with the 175th anniversary logo on top? Without divulging too much, the time capsule includes team apparel and equipment, event programs, lots of photos, letters to future students, items representing student orgs, and a few surprises we’ll save for 2050!
“This is a big moment. It’s amazing that you can be a part of representing those who have come before and those who are yet to come,” Ashley told the students at the burial ceremony. “It’s just really cool. I hope you all remember that you were a part of this moment, cherish it and tell this story after you graduate.”
President Rob Huntington thanked “phenomenal” project partners Marker Construction and the Design Collaborative for their role in helping to bury the time capsule. He also expressed appreciation to two ‘Berg colleagues – VP for Facilities and Engineering Rod Morrison and Athletic Director Greg Cooper – who are overseeing the Fieldhouse project from the campus perspective.
Before senior soccer player Brigid Enright tossed the first shovel of dirt on top of the time capsule, Rob reinforced the “amazing anniversary” that will be held in 2050 when the time capsule’s contents are revealed.