Dozens of Hilmar residents gathered on Tuesday night to celebrate Hilmar High School’s centennial year.  A 100-year commemorative sign honoring the traditions and memories made by the students for nearly 10 decades was unveiled at the event.

“We are here to unveil a marker that celebrates the centennial for our school. This marker is very special to us because it honors the first class back in 1911, the current class, and everybody in between,” said Hilmar High Assistant Principal Karen McGee.

The stone sign is more than a marker, it also houses two time capsules.

“The high school district began in 1911 and we are very excited to complete the 100 years with this sign.  Inside the sign is two time capsules;  one is a 25 year time capsule and the other one is a 50 year time capsule,” said Hilmar Unified School District Superintendent Isabel Cabral-Johnson.   “Those will contain items that the students from this generation have chosen to put in there.  The items contain memorabilia such as patches, yearbooks, t-shirts from the clubs on campus, and newspaper articles,” she said.

Also included in the time capsule, will be a video of this year’s centennial event.

“We are also going to be interviewing some people that are present at this event and are in connection to the Hilmar Unified School District. They will be able to see this video in 25 and 50 years from now,” said Cabral-Johnson. 

Student Body President Lauren Rocha participated by choosing the items that will be included in the time capsule.

“I thought it would be a good idea if we put a phone in the time capsule.  It would be interesting for the new generation to see what we were using in this era,” she said. 

Rocha was also a member of the centennial committee which helped organize and prepare for the centennial event. 

“This is a very special moment for me.  I am very glad to have been a part of it,” she said.

The centennial celebration marked the culmination of a series of events throughout the school year commemorating the 100th year.