by Friendswood ISD Communication Department
Westwood Elementary’s long-awaited time capsule ceremony brought together the community on the morning of Saturday, Oct. 25, celebrating the 30-year anniversary of a unique project from the 1994 Challenge program. Attended by approximately 160 guests, including current and former students, staff, and community members, the event offered a rare glimpse into the past.
The ceremony began with a cheer from the Westwood Spirit Squad and a musical performance by the Westwood Second-Grade Choir. Remarks were given by Westwood Principal Andi Hull, teacher and creator of the time capsule Cindy Young, and Friendswood ISD Superintendent Thad Roher.
Originally buried by Westwood’s year-round Challenge students as the culmination of a study on time and culture led by instructor Young, the time capsule was finally opened by Young and some of her former students, revealing items that offered a snapshot of 1994.
Among the contents were VHS tapes, a Houston Rockets souvenir cup, dental tools, a baseball glove, an Ace of Base tape, and newspaper clippings including stories on low voter turnout, a Houston doctor working on an AIDS vaccine and Mustang playoff games. Despite having a bit of water damage, each item shed light on the lives and experiences of students from that era.
The event not only reconnected former students and educators but also inspired current students to think about their own legacy and what future generations might learn from them.