Time capsule commemorates school’s history

Pictures, newspaper clippings, a cowbell from welding students, a computer mouse, a film strip, a shoe, pamphlets from previous school programs, CDs, a coffee mug, seeds and a solar calculator were all items placed in the Orange Technical College — West Campus’ time capsule in 1999. 

On Thursday, April 18, more than 50 people who have previously worked or currently work at the school attended a time capsule-opening event.

Although the capsule was in the walls of the school for 25 years, the contents date back another 25 years before that.

With the capsule now open, the OTC — West Campus team is ready to start the next chapter in its journey with the opening of the new campus come fall at 2010 Ocoee-Apopka Road, Ocoee. 

There, OTC — West Campus Senior Director Scott Weidl plans on creating a new time capsule with contents from the previous location at 955 E. Story Road, Winter Garden.

PRESERVING THE PAST

Westside Vocational School first opened in 1974, led by Frank House, who served as the senior director from 1974 to 1982. 

Walt Cobb, who served as the second senior director of the school from 1983 to 2005, said the time capsule opening was very emotional for him.

“When I see all these people (who) have helped serve in our school community, it brings up a lot of different memories for me,” he said. “It was like a reunion of a family. That’s the type of atmosphere that I tried to create here — one where we were united and fulfilled a purpose of helping students change their lives. I always tried to build a core staff that felt like we were a team and who could come and talk to me about anything. Seeing everyone speak about that culture was extremely special.”

Today, the school serves more than 3,300 community members. 

Cobb credits Don Wagner, who served as a curriculum resource teacher at the school, for the inception of the time capsule. 

Wagner decided there should be some type of documented history for the school and approached the school’s administration staff with the idea of creating the time capsule.

“I loved working here,” Wagner said. “It was so much fun. It was such an amazing place to work, and what made it even better was the people. It was like a family.”

Michael Armbruster said Cobb took a chance on him becoming part of the family, and, years later, it seems to have paid off.

“Walt was a member of the West Orange Country Club,” he said. “So, I saw him two or three times a week when I was working there. I was talking to him one day because he had a Westside T-shirt on, and I told him my wife was going to interview there. He ended up hiring her, and then two years later is when I went and spoke with him about maybe looking at teaching. He told me to come on out, so I did, and it changed my life forever. Hopefully, I’ve proved him right in his decision.”

Armbruster now serves as the deputy superintendent for Orange County Public Schools.

“When you think of a legacy, this is your legacy,” he said of Cobb. “You took a chance on me, and that’s not something I’ve ever taken for granted or something I’ve ever forgotten. I can never thank you enough for that. You have left a forever impact on me.” 

PIONEERING THE FUTURE

Cobb said Weidl has been incredible in helping to continue the culture at OTC — West Campus.

“We have worked together really closely throughout the years,” he said of Weidl. “We go to lunch and talk about things, and I feel honored to be able to share my history, experiences and knowledge with him.”

Weidl has served as senior director for the school since July.

Previously, he served as a GED instructor before becoming assistant director at the OTC — West Campus, where he served for seven years.  He then served as the senior director at the OTC Main and Avalon campuses for two years. 

“I’ve had the good fortune of working at this campus in various roles for 15 out of my 17 years in education,” Weidl said. “I’ve met many amazing professionals during my career who have left an indelible mark on this campus. I’ve also heard many stories about faculty and staff members who worked here before me.”

The new 115,604-square-foot campus in Ocoee is a $42.3 million project that includes building and campus areas/space planned for growth and future expansion. 

It will include five buildings— two two-story buildings and three one-story buildings — with features such as construction labs, classrooms, an event space and hybrid lab, cafe and campus store, administration offices, construction yard, and a full-service salon.

There are about 60 programs offered across the six OTC campuses. The new campus will feature building construction technology training M]programs such as electricity, welding and various apprenticeship programs — all leading to high-skill and high-wage careers.

The campus also will help students with learning English, becoming an apprentice, earning a GED or expanding industry-based skills.

Weidl said the school already is in the planning stages of creating another time capsule.

“We want to fill it while we’re still at our current campus,” he said. “We also have plans to display the contents of the current time capsule and other historical artifacts at our new campus,  so our students, faculty and staff members can learn about the rich history of this school.”

Read the full story on the new campus here.