25 years later: Penn State DuBois time capsule reflects a legacy of community

DuBOIS, Pa. — When Penn State DuBois students, faculty and staff sealed a time capsule in 2001, they were preserving a moment in time; capturing the traditions, priorities, and spirit of campus life as they knew it, with plans to reopen it 25 years later.

That moment arrived this spring.

As the time capsule was reopened in 2026, what was uncovered was far more than old photos, memorabilia and keepsakes. It was a powerful reminder of the people, experiences and sense of community that have defined Penn State DuBois for generations.

For Chancellor Jungwoo Ryoo, opening the time capsule served as an opportunity to reflect on Penn State DuBois’ legacy while recognizing the lasting impact the campus has had on generations of students, faculty, staff and alumni.

“Reopening this time capsule signifies 25 years of unwavering commitment to our mission,” Ryoo said. “It stands as a tangible link between our past and our present, celebrating the profound, lasting difference Penn State DuBois has made — and continues to make — in the lives of our students and the communities we serve.”

As Penn State DuBois approaches its final academic year, Ryoo said the timing of the moment adds another layer of meaning.

“A campus is ultimately defined not just by its physical space, but by its purpose,” he said. “The items preserved from the past remind us that our true legacy isn't written in brick and mortar — it is written in the lives of the students we have empowered and the communities we have uplifted.”

For many who gathered to witness the opening, the experience was emotional, nostalgic, and deeply personal.

Few experienced the significance of that moment more than Rebecca Pennington, director of Student Affairs, who was there both when the capsule was sealed in 2001 and again when it was reopened 25 years later.

“It is an extremely odd feeling to be here at both ends of this project,” Pennington said. “When we sealed it, I never imagined 25 years going by so quickly.”

Back in 2001, Pennington’s office sat just downstairs from the Student Union, placing her at the center of student life every day.

“My space was always hopping with students,” she said, remembering the constant energy of student leadership, the student-run newspaper, and lots of other campus involvement.

Opening the capsule brought many of those memories rushing back, especially photos from the campus’s first THON hair auction; an event she had nearly forgotten was tucked inside.

This year, those memories came full circle in an unexpected way when alumnus Steve Bearfield, who participated in that very first haircut as a student and Student Government Association (SGA) president, returned 25 years later to once again donate his hair for THON.

For Pennington, that moment perfectly captured what Penn State DuBois has always represented.

“I hope they reflect on how much we still think of this place as family,” she said. “The students who come back here as alumni and still want to participate … I want current students to remember that.”

At the same time, reopening the capsule during Penn State DuBois’ final chapter carried a deeper emotional weight.

“Opening this time capsule brought back such good memories; however, it also brought sadness to me, given that we are closing,” Pennington said. “It pointed out that this legacy is coming to an end.”

That same sense of pride, gratitude, and reflection was echoed by Holli Lashinsky, who was serving Penn State DuBois in both admissions and athletics when the capsule was first placed and continues to serve the campus today.

“What I remember most is how supportive and close-knit the campus environment was,” Lashinsky said. “We were and still are a family.”

For Lashinsky, the reopening was especially meaningful because her connection to Penn State DuBois now spans multiple generations, not only as a former student and longtime employee, but also as the parent of a current student.

Seeing the campus through her daughter’s experience has only deepened her appreciation for what Penn State DuBois has meant to so many students and families over the years.

“It has been a full-circle moment for me,” Lashinsky said. “I was a student at Penn State DuBois, then built my career here, and now I’ve had the opportunity to watch my own daughter thrive here.”

Over the last 25 years, Lashinsky has watched Penn State DuBois evolve through changing technology, new programs and generational shifts, but she said the heart of the campus has remained the same.

“What has always made Penn State DuBois special to me is the personal connection and sense of community students experience from the moment they arrive,” she said. “It is a place where students are truly known as individuals, not just as numbers.”

For current student body president Garret Park, the time capsule offered something else entirely: a much-needed bright spot.

“With everything happening with our campus shutting down, having something like this gave us a positive thing to reflect on,” Park said.

As he explored the capsule’s contents, Park was struck not by how different student leaders were in 2001, but by how similar they were.

“The goal of student government then and now has not changed a bit,” he said. “Both have a strong drive to make student life better.”

For Bearfield, returning to campus for the reopening was both rewarding and bittersweet.

As SGA president in 2001, Bearfield helped lead the original time capsule project, never fully knowing what it would mean decades later.

“Penn State gave me more than a degree,” Bearfield said. “Every day since graduating, I have used something that I learned while a student.”

Revisiting the capsule brought back memories of student leadership, campus traditions, and Penn State DuBois’ role in shaping not only his education, but his life.

During some of his darkest personal moments, Bearfield said his Penn State DuBois family carried him through.

That enduring bond is exactly why he has remained so connected to campus and why he said he rarely declines an opportunity to give back.

“Anything I can do to give back is never too much to ask,” he said.

As Penn State DuBois approaches its final year, Bearfield said he hopes alumni return in force for one final chapter, not just to say goodbye, but to remind future generations that this campus mattered.

“We were here,” he said, “and We Are.”