As many students here at Missouri University of Science and Technology may be aware, this fall semester holds significant importance for our university. This fall marks the one-hundred-and-fifty-year anniversary of the formerly known Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy which was formed in 1870. Since then, this university, founded in the town of Rolla Missouri, has seen students from all over the world that share a love for engineering, science, and technology. This sesquicentennial anniversary is a chance for students to look back and appreciate how our campus has evolved over the past one hundred and fifty years and ponder on where we came from and how we can continue to evolve from here. As part of this milestone semester, there are plans for celebratory events throughout the fall. One of these events included a poster contest where the university encouraged students from local schools to design a poster representing the 150th anniversary and awarded prizes to the chosen winner. University students can also partake in the celebration by collecting merchandise that focuses on our school’s history. Students and alumni alike can purchase a historical book written by one of Missouri S&T’s professors and apparel representing the university’s many different names, including Missouri School of Mines and University of Missouri – Rolla.
Another one of these truly exciting events is the one-hundred-and-fifty-year time capsule. The university plans to seal a time capsule this semester that will not be opened until Missouri S&T’s bicentennial. This means that in fifty years, future students will bear witness to a little piece of the history students are currently making. To make this opening in 2071 more meaningful, the campus is encouraging not only those a part of the S&T community but also those in the Rolla community to come forward with ideas on items to seal in the time capsule. This will allow those closest to our university to have a say in how we are represented fifty years from now and hopefully share what it means to be a Miner in today’s world. Community members are encouraged to be creative; this is the chance to add and share personal memories and experiences that will be revealed to a new generation.
Some ideas that have already been shared include sealing a St. Pat’s sweatshirt, memorabilia from this semester’s anniversary, information about the campus response to COVID-19, and a flash drive with folders for different student organizations. The time capsule itself measures thirty-three inches by twenty-three inches, but those who are selected to seal their items in the capsule will add them into a three-inch cube. In total, there will be ten winners selected to seal their own personal piece of S&T history into the sesquicentennial capsule. When thinking of suggestions, the university recommends asking a few different questions. One of these questions is what memories should be preserved in the 150th anniversary time capsule? It is also important to ask what do people of 2071 need to know about life at S&T today? With these questions in mind, there is no doubt S&T students, faculty, and alumni will be able to create a truly meaningful time capsule. For even more information on Missouri University of Science and Technology’s special anniversary events and merchandise you can visit 150.mst.edu and to enter suggestions for the time capsule or keep up with current suggestions, you can visit 150.mst.edu/time-capsule.
