UNC alumni to recreate early student's walk to Chapel Hill

Posted Jul 31, 2008

Three young UNC alumni plan to re-create one of the most famous treks in Tar Heel history this month - the walk that UNC's first student took to class. Nick Becketti, Bryan Jones and Whitney Reeds plan to duplicate the feat of Hinton James of New Hanover County, who arrived at Chapel Hill to enroll on Feb. 12, 1795. According to historian William D. Snyder, James made the entire trip, approximately 170 miles, on foot. (Wilmington Star News)

Related: Campus Connections

Best-selling novelist, UNC alum Sarah Dessen reflects on her ‘Change of Plans’
At UNC, Sarah Dessen initially chose psychology as her major. But after she took a creative writing class with the late Doris Betts, she was...
Wed Jul 29, 2026

A guide to Chapel Hill's vibrant music scene
Some of my favorite memories at Chapel Hill have taken place in loud rooms lit by colorful stage lights. Listening to live music with friends...
Tue Jul 28, 2026

The Delicious Legacy of Chapel Hill’s Favorite BLT
Perched just off Highway 15-501 in Chapel Hill, NC, the old-school breakfast and lunch joint Merritt’s Grill serves such comforting Southern classics as pulled pork...
Mon Jul 27, 2026

UNC students gather to remember James Cates Jr. 55 years after his murder: 'A 22-year-old like us'
When students are walking to and from their classes every day, they can find a plaque located by the Pit and beside the Undergraduate Library...
Sun Jul 26, 2026