水果派

As Mount Saint Mary's University nears the close of its 100th anniversary yearlong celebrations, the community marked one of its most reflective milestones, not by looking back alone, but by intentionally looking forward. A 100th Anniversary Time Capsule Ceremony celebrated at the Chalon Campus on April 29 offered a lasting gesture of connection between the Mount’s first century and the generations who will follow.

At the center of the ceremony was the placement of a time capsule, a sealed container designed to preserve materials from the present day for future discovery. Scheduled to be reopened during the 2075–2076 academic year, the capsule was carefully assembled to capture a snapshot of life at the Mount during its centennial.

Held in front of the Wellness Pavilion, the ceremony carried a quiet significance as the University placed the capsule into the ground.

In her remarks, Mount Saint Mary’s President Ann McElaney-Johnson reflected on the deeper meaning behind the moment. “This ceremony is simple in form, but profound in meaning. We are here to mark a moment in time, and at the same time, to reach across it,” she said.

Inside the capsule is a curated collection of materials that reflect the academic, cultural and community life of the University. Items include student reflections and survey responses, syllabi and faculty scholarship, University publications, institutional records and Mount memorabilia. Together, these objects create a layered portrait of the Mount in 2026, capturing not only what the University produced, but what its community valued enough to preserve.

Throughout the ceremony, President McElaney-Johnson emphasized that the act of creating a time capsule is ultimately one of belief in the institution, in its mission and in the people who will carry it forward. “A time capsule is an act of faith. It assumes continuity and hope. Whatever challenges lie ahead, education, community and our human connections will endure,” she said.

As the capsule was lowered into the ground, the moment carried both gratitude for the generations who shaped the Mount’s first 100 years and intention for those who will shape the future chapters of the University.

“May this capsule rest as a quiet reminder that we were here, that we cared deeply, and that we believed strongly in the future,” President McElaney-Johnson said.

Following the ceremony, guests gathered for a community lunch, continuing the spirit of connection before attending a screening of the documentary “Responding to the Needs of the Time: Celebrating 100 Unstoppable Years,” directed by film professor Mary Trunk and edited by Caren McCaleb.

With Commencement just days away, the ceremony served as one of the closing moments of a landmark year.