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, 18������’s colorful and free anime festival, returns to the college tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 25 for its 22nd year. 

The event will run from noon to 11 p.m. Admission to Chibi Chibi Con is free, which makes it an inviting, low-barrier opportunity to explore anime convention culture. As a health precaution, attendees again this year will have to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter. Masks are not required but people are encouraged to wear them, especially in crowded areas. 

With the first month of a four-month legislative session behind us, 18������ has been engaged on bills that would help students across Washington meet their basic needs and grant scholarships to Native American students.

OLYMPIA – 18������ has hired another exceptional coach to start up its wrestling teams. 

18������ is now the only four-year college in Washington to offer a wrestling program and Fan Zhang will be leading the women’s team for its inaugural season. 

We’re now two weeks into the 2023 legislative session, which is mostly in-person after two years of remote operations. 18������ has a new government relations director, positive momentum around enrollment and a fair budget proposed by Governor Inslee that will help us serve students in new and traditional ways.

Both women’s and men’s wrestling and cross-country will be added to 18������’s student athletics programs starting in Fall 2023. 

“Student athletes make great Greeners,” said 18������’s president Dr. John Carmichael. “They are self-motivated and community minded. We look forward to welcoming more student-athletes to 18������.” 

Entrepreneurs, Kim Kaufman '78 and Jimmy Goldsmith, have made a $150,000 commitment to give $50,000 per year for the next three years to support the new wrestling and cross-country teams.  

Olympia – The Science Stories exhibit will be available from now until March 24 at 18������’s Library.

The exhibit which brings together scientists and book artists from the Pacific Northwest together, has been touring colleges across Washington and is now at the 18������ Library. The exhibit is divided into broad topics which include water, ice, mountains, flora, fauna and human health. 

OLYMPIA – The Board of Trustees for 18������ is set to hold its first regular meeting for 2023 on Friday, January 13.   

The hybrid meeting will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and agenda items include an update on the college’s strategic plan regarding student academic success and support, as well as continuing to strengthen the college’s financial position.   

There is also an action item for the Board to consider approval for the establishment of a new Prison Education Program.   

The Art Lecture Series presents a broad range of interdisciplinary approaches to contemporary art issues by artists, writers, activists and scholars. The ongoing aim is to bring an array of practices from a variety of fields, areas of inquiry and creative production that are active in the world beyond our campus. The series provides a lively forum for the exchange of ideas between the speakers, students, faculty, staff and the public.

OLYMPIA – 18������ has hired an exceptional coach to start up its men’s wrestling team.  

Greg Ford, Jr. be joining 18������ athletics after the holidays to prepare for the college’s first wrestling season in 2023.  

The Governor released his budget proposals for the 2023-25 biennium. These proposed budgets include nearly all of 18������'s budget requests for the biennium.