GWC Celebrates its Golden Anniversary

group standing in shape of 50

Golden West College’s opened its doors on September 12, 1966. Exactly 50 years later, September 12, 2016 Golden West College hosted their Golden Anniversary celebration featuring students and employees from every decade of the college’s existence. The event featured a special presentation by the masons of the Huntington Beach Masonic Lodge, who led a traditional ceremony in conjunction with the opening of two GWC’s time capsules.

In 1966, the masons installed the time capsule within the college cornerstone and presided over the ceremony. It was fitting to ask them to participate in the opening of the 50-year time capsule, bringing it full-circle. Judith Valles, GWC president from 1988 to 1993, was on hand to open a 25-year capsule, which was installed as a tribute to her in 1991.

Items in these historic monuments included photographs, catalogs, newspaper articles and magazines, architectural drawings, college documents – including a copy of the deed to the property, and various GWC memorabilia. A new time capsule, to be opened at the college’s 100th Anniversary, will be installed at the grand opening of the Student One-Stop Center.

Featured speakers at the ceremony included John Furbish, GWC’s first student council president, and John Wordes, charter faculty and current employee at GWC.

The ceremony was followed by a group aerial shot in the shape of a 50 in the central quad, as well as refreshments and t-shirts for every guest in attendance.

PHOTO GALLERY