‘Frames of the Past’ project has impact on Central Penn student
By Noah Lopez
Knightly News Reporter
In the winter of 2024, I started a project as part of my work-study position at Central Penn College. At the time, it seemed like just another job, something to help me earn money and build up my resume. My task was to scan photos, label them and archive materials from the past of Central Penn College. It felt endless. There were boxes upon boxes of old pictures, yearbooks and documents, and I could not see myself finishing any time soon.
At first, the job was quiet and very repetitive. I would sit for hours in the college library, clicking through images, scanning photos and checking to ensure they were organized properly. It was slow work. But somewhere along the way, something changed. As I started to recognize faces, landmarks and familiar names, the project became more personal. As a graduate of East Pennsboro Area High School, the deeper I went, the more I realized that I was not just handling school archives, I was preserving the story of my community.
The photos told stories of everyday life at Central Penn–inside dormitories, about in-class presentations, trips with the school, events the college participated in and more. These were not only snapshots of college life but also of real life. The little details in each image helped paint a bigger picture of how things once were and how far we have come. And, recognizing that fact, I began to understand the real value of the work. It was about building a bridge between past and present, helping us see our community with deeper appreciation and purpose.
Speaking of data entry, during the digitization process, I found some things in the photos that stood out. Some were funny, some were strange and some just made me stop and think about what was going on at that time. One of the most unexpected things I encountered was a fashion show by marketing students. People were walking down a makeshift runway in outfits they had put together, showing off designs that I assume reflected the styles of that time. But in a completely different set of photos, this time from the legal assistant program, I saw someone in a full pig suit standing in the middle of the courtroom. I still have no idea what the story was behind that (possibly something Halloween related?), but it definitely made the work more interesting. Those small surprises made the job feel less like a task and more like a treasure hunt. Every folder had the potential to show me something completely new or unexpected, which happened a lot.
As I got further into the project, my connection to local history began to grow. What started as a work-study position became something I truly cared about. I even began volunteering with the Historical Society of East Pennsboro Township & Surrounding Areas (formerly East Pennsboro Township Historical Society), where I now help promote community events and assist with other preservation efforts. My appreciation for history expanded beyond school walls and into a greater sense of what it means to protect and honor the past.
Now, with the digitization project nearly complete, I am preparing to share it with the entire CPC community. I will present my findings, sharing highlights from the archives and explaining how the process shaped my view of history, community and the power of storytelling through images.
I encourage you to save the date for the “Frames of the Past” presentation that will take place in ATEC 200 on June 11 from noon to 1 p.m. During that time, I will have the opportunity to share many of these photos with you, but also to reflect on the importance of this process and how it relates to Central Penn College.
I never imagined that a part-time job would become such a meaningful experience. This project reminded me how important it is to record and preserve our history, not just for ourselves but for future generations who may one day want to look back and understand the people and places that came before them.
Lopez is the incoming president of The Knightly News Media Club @ Central Penn College.
Comment or story idea? Contact [email protected].
Edited by media-club co-advisers Professors Paul Miller and Michael Lear-Olimpi.
