CWU Starts Year With Students Back on Campus, Mostly In-person Classes

While walking through a campus bustling with students the Friday before classes started, new Central Washington University President Jim Wohlpart became emotional.

"The vibrancy, the life, the passion, the enthusiasm, the laughter that students bring is so incredibly important," Wohlpart said.

CWU is welcoming students back to campus for in-person classes that start Wednesday after more than a year of mostly virtual instruction because of the COVID pandemic. Staff members said they were excited to see the Ellensburg campus alive with students again, while incoming freshmen said they look forward to getting the college experience.

CWU Director of Bands T. André Feagin returned to campus ahead of the start of classes to lead the preseason camp for the Wildcat Marching Band. This is the first time since 2019 the university could have the camp. He said students seemed eager to return to their activities.

"I really have sensed that there's been an electricity, just on the campus in the past couple days," he said. "It feels different."

Read the entire article online at the Yakima Herald.