UWF hits record enrollment as students head back to class

They came from across town, south Florida and even the Midwest as the University of West Florida held Move-In Day for President's Hall on Wednesday.

Students and parents carried laptops, televisions, clothing, lamps, photos, room decor and other necessities in their hands, backpacks, boxes, plastic bins, wagons and even UWF-supplied carts.

Sophomore De'Undre Atkins, a cybersecurity major from Pensacola, didn’t move a whole lot into his dorm room. However, his cousin, Joshua Jackson, did single-handedly haul Atkins’ mini fridge into President's Hall.

“I have my TV, fridge and some clothes. I learned a lot from my first year. You don't need a lot of stuff, just the necessities," said Atkins, who added he chose UWF for its community and his degree program.

"UWF has a great cybersecurity program that is nationally recognized , and the university is close to home."

Deborah Atkins, De'Undre's mother, said she's glad her son chose UWF.

"Moving day is a little bit hectic but he's excited to be back on campus, and I’m glad that he's at home," she said.

Fall semester classes begin at the university on Monday. Student Move-In Days started Wednesday and will continue through Saturday.

As of Aug. 13, UWF officials reported that 14,712 students were enrolled for the fall semester – 2,169 freshmen, 1,599 sophomores, 2,335 juniors, 3,351 seniors, 4,493 graduate students and non-degree seeking students.

UWF President Martha D. Saunders said this is another record enrollment year for the university – and a 5 percent overall increase over Fall 2023. Graduate student enrollment also is up 11 percent over Fall 2023.

"People want to be here. We know people want to hire our graduates. We know what a quality place it is, and I think the word is out that UWF is the place to be and if you come here, you have arrived," Saunders said. "It's really good, we are hitting our stride."

She noted that first-time-in-college (FTIC) student enrollment also is up 18 percent from 2023.

“The FTIC applications closed in June – the earliest in institution history – after another record-breaking year of applications (approximately 10,500),” Saunders said. “This FTIC class is on track to be the second largest in institution history.”

Alexis Rogers is among those FTIC students. The Miamisburg, Ohio, freshman brought along her parents, Chris and Beth Rogers, and siblings, Aiden and Abigail, to help with the move to Pensacola.

"We left home on Monday, stopped in Alabama to stay the night and then got into town yesterday afternoon," her father, Chris Rogers, said of the 11-hour trek.

Rogers, a marine biology major, initially had a couple of other universities in mind. By serendipity, she researched and toured UWF last summer and the decision was made.

"As soon as I stepped on the UWF campus, I just loved it. All the people were so nice, and the campus was just gorgeous," she recalled.

Theresa Raybourne, another freshman moving into President’s Hall, said she chose UWF because of the U.S. Air Force ROTC and the physics programs.

"My future goal is to become a fighter pilot in the Air Force and if that doesn't work, I'll just be an engineer because I love physics," said the Bradenton resident.

Raybourne’s parents, Herb and Christina Raybourne, said they are OK with her being seven hours from home.

"I'm a little nervous but we’ll be OK as long as she stays in contact. Communication is very easy now,” her mother said. “She's got a lot of structure with ROTC. ... Hopefully, she'll plug into ROTC and the campus ministry. With those two things, she'll do fine.”

Saunders said UWF has a fast-growing cohort from the state's major metropolitan areas as well as being popular with Northwest Florida students.

" I always tell them, it's farther than you think," Saunders said when speaking with potential students.

Crestview resident Imani Knight, a marine biologist major sophomore, described her second move-in day as "hot!" But Knight still brought along the blanket her mother crocheted for her in third grade.

"I brought it last year too, it's kind of my little piece of home and Crestview on campus," said Knight, who was on her fourth trip to her car. "I'm not sure how many more trips I have but I'll get it done."

Tristan Morua, a mechanical engineering major from Graceville, has wanted to attend UWF since he was about 11 years old.

“My older brother considered UWF and toured the campus, but I was the who really liked the area, the campus facilities and the people,” said Morua, who earned his associate degree from Chipola State College.

His mother, Mary Ward, and grandmother, Margaret Jones, said they love UWF’s convenient location.

"Two hours one way, we can meet halfway and that's an hour drive," Ward said. “It’s not too far at all.”

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: UWF hits record enrollment as students head back to class