How UNC-Chapel Hill Became the Nation’s First Public University
Posted Dec 12, 2017
When 18-year-old Hinton James left his home in Wilmington to attend college, he thought his biggest accomplishment would be the 170-mile walk he’d made from his home to get there. Little did James know he would actually be the first student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After arriving on February 12, 1795, he would remain the only student for the next two weeks.
(Our State Magazine)
Related: Campus Connections
Best moments from ESPN documentary "Boo-Yah: A Portrait of Stuart Scott"In 1984, Stuart Scott began attending the University of North Carolina, where he studied journalism. He became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.,...
Thu Dec 18, 2025UNC grad documents post-Helene recovery
In addition to Carolina’s Spring Commencement, Max Feliu ’25 had another May date circled on his calendar. The filmmaker’s nine-minute documentary on life after Hurricane...
Thu Dec 18, 2025
UNC Athletics Celebrates The Season With Team IMPACT
Carolina Athletics welcomed members of Team IMPACT and their families for a fun-filled day of holiday activities with student-athletes from various programs on Saturday. The...
Tue Dec 16, 2025
There Will Never Be Another Stuart Scott
For an entire generation of American sports fans, Stuart Scott loomed as large as the superstar athletes he covered. After 22 years at ESPN—bringing a...
Sun Dec 14, 2025