Welcome back to the Campus Beautiful, Colonels! We hope you enjoyed a safe, healthy summer and are ready for a new school year. Big E Welcome looked a little different this year; for the safety of our students and their families, move-in activities were socially distanced and spread out over a week. But as you can see, that didn’t stop new Colonels from falling in love with their second home. Once everyone was settled in, it was time for the first day of what is sure to be a memorable academic year. Here are some photos of the Big E Welcome and first day of classes captured by staff photographer Carsen Bryant.
![Aric Young walking into student recreation center on first day of Big E Weekend](https://www.eku.edu/stories/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/02/20200814_bigedayone13.jpg)
![Two students rolling in cart of belongings into Martin Hall during Move in week](https://www.eku.edu/stories/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/02/20200812_moveinweek4_0.jpg)
![One student pushing cart out the doors of Martin Hall during Move in week](https://www.eku.edu/stories/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/02/20200813_moveinweek13_0.jpg)
![One student painting on a canvas during Big E Welcome at the Recreation Center](https://www.eku.edu/stories/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/02/20200814_bigedayone3_0.jpg)
![Four students sitting at tables spread apart painting canvases in the Rec Center](https://www.eku.edu/stories/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/02/20200814_bigedayone4_0.jpg)
![Student climbing in the middle of the vibrant rock wall inside the Rec Center](https://www.eku.edu/stories/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/02/20200814_bigedayone11_0.jpg)
![Eastern Kentucky University water tower during a sunset next to Alumni Colosseum](https://www.eku.edu/stories/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/02/20200814_bigedayone16_0.jpg)
![Student holding up a peace sign during a campus tour next to the Crabbe Library](https://www.eku.edu/stories/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/02/20200814_bigedayone18_0.jpg)
![Two students pitching and hitting baseball on the Combs Baseball field](https://www.eku.edu/stories/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/02/20200814_bigedayone23_0.jpg)
![One student swinging baseball bat at softball on Combs Baseball field](https://www.eku.edu/stories/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/02/20200814_bigedayone25_0.jpg)
![Student walking in front of brick wall during their first day of classes](https://www.eku.edu/stories/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/02/20200817_firstweekofclasses2_0.jpg)
![Staff walking in front of the library entrance holding lunch box and coffee mug](https://www.eku.edu/stories/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/02/20200817_firstweekofclasses8_0.jpg)
![Student walking around the Student Recreation Center holding books.](https://www.eku.edu/stories/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/02/20200817_firstweekofclasses12_0.jpg)
Published on August 18, 2020