225 years of Tar Heels: Hinton James

Posted Feb 13, 2019
First-year students living in Hinton James Residence Hall are no strangers to long walks to campus. Neither was the namesake of that building, Hinton James, who — legend has it — walked from his home in Wilmington, NC, to Chapel Hill in 1795 and became the first student to enroll. James arrived at UNC on Feb. 12, 1795, almost a month after the University opened its doors. (UNC.edu)

Related: Campus Connections

Carolina Across 100 launches final program
UNC-Chapel Hill’s Carolina Across 100 initiative welcomes 10 teams covering 19 counties to its final program Our State, Our Future. This culminating program marks the...
Tue Mar 31, 2026

Interview with comedian, UNC alum Lewis Black
Lewis Black, the now 77-year-old stand-up legend has retired from touring, and his recent “Goodbye Yeller Brick Road” performances were his last. But Black, the...
Mon Mar 30, 2026

Here are 5 things I love about Carolina
Rameses at Home - One of my favorite experiences in the community is when I drive past the Hogan family farm and I catch a...
Sat Mar 28, 2026

Famous sports broadcaster, UNC alum Jim Lampley retires to Chapel Hill after an unusual career
Muhammad Ali once babysat Jim Lampley’s daughter during a boxing awards dinner in 1991. That may tell you a lot of what you need to...
Thu Mar 26, 2026