UNC Campus Connections

Complete coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels Campus Connections.

Heart of a Heel encourages organ donor registration

Three Carolina seniors used experiences from their undergraduate studies and inspirational stories from other Tar Heels to help save lives. Rotimi Kukoyi, Emma Montero and Olu Kopano became friends in their first year as Morehead-Cain scholars. Now, they’re launching Heart of a Heel: a campaign to increase organ donations in North Carolina. (UNC.edu)

Roy Williams shares wisdom with Carolina seniors

Roy Williams is a basketball legend, a three-time national champion head coach, and, a proud Carolina alumnus. "You are a graduate of the University of North Carolina — it doesn’t get any better," Williams told the Class of 2026 on May 1 while delivering the Last Lecture, part of Carolina Alumni’s Senior Week, on Polk Place in front of Wilson Library. (UNC.edu)

UNC professor, Nobel laureate Aziz Sancar inspires the next generation

A decade after earning the Nobel Prize in chemistry, UNC School of Medicine professor Dr. Aziz Sancar shows no signs of hanging up his lab coat. At 79, he continues to teach molecular biology to undergraduate Tar Heels, advance cancer research and invest in Carolina Turk Evi, a community center for Turkish graduate students and visiting scholars. (UNC.edu)

Meet the Carolina Class of 2026

More than 7,100 Tar Heels, including undergraduate, graduate and professional students, will have their Carolina degrees conferred at Spring Commencement on May 9. More than 5,500 of those students are North Carolina residents. The Class of 2026 excelled in the classroom, conducted research, won national championships and served their country. (UNC.edu)

When a Cold War trip to the USSR turned into a bizarre basketball game for UNC faculty and students

50 yrs ago, one of the most bizarre & hilariously mismatched basketball games in UNC history took place – and almost no one knows about it. During the Cold War in 1975, UNC faculty & students planned a cultural visit to the USSR. The UNC group thought it would be fun to arrange a casual pickup basketball game between American and Russian students. (Triangle Blog Blog)

‘A space to breathe:’ The Coker Arboretum’s enduring legacy

There once was just one tree in the space that is now the Coker Arboretum. More than 120 years later, that overcup oak still stands as a symbol of endurance at the heart of an oasis on UNC’s campus. All around the tree over that time, there has been constant growth and decay. The arboretum lives and breathes. And now that oak is part of a rich canopy. (UNC.edu)

Rick Dees - UNC alum, legendary radio DJ, and singer - turns 76

Rick Dees was born in Jacksonville, Florida and raised in Greensboro, NC. He began his radio career in high school at a Greensboro radio station called WGBG. In 1972, Dees graduated with a degree in Radio, Television and Motion Pictures from UNC. Years later, the university honored the entertainer with The Rick Dees Student Production Fund. (Parade.com)

From a Dirt Road to a Destination: A History of Franklin Street

In Chapel Hill, Franklin Street has been the main thoroughfare for decades and a must-see destination. When residents welcome guests to town, they take them to eat on Franklin Street. When people want to celebrate a major sports victory, they gather on Franklin Street. When locals talk about “Downtown Chapel Hill,” they are referring to Franklin Street. (Glen Lennox)

Carolina is calling Eric Church home

Country music superstar Eric Church has traveled the world performing songs for millions of fans. Through it all, one thing kept him connected to North Carolina. "I would stay up to watch Carolina basketball just to feel closer to home,” said Church. Church is coming home to Carolina to deliver the Spring Commencement address May 9 in Kenan Stadium. (UNC.edu)

UNC earns top national rankings for graduate education

Numerous UNC graduate programs received high rankings in the U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Graduate Schools” list, with 20 placing among the top 10 in the nation in their respective categories. UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy is once again the No. 1 pharmacy school in the country. This is the fourth consecutive top ranking for the school. (UNC.edu)

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