UNC Campus Connections
Complete coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels Campus Connections.
'Puppy Love': Dolly Parton's first recorded song, made at age 13, draws mourners to UNC
Flags across the state are flying at half-staff as fans mourn country music icon Dolly Parton. At UNC, her very first recorded song, cut when she was just 13, is now on display as part of a public exhibit. Wilson Library Curator Steven Weis showed the record that launched Parton's career, a track titled Puppy Love. The university owns the original recording. (
ABC 11)
Meet UNC’s Sarah Ferguson: A musician, model and the first paraplegic Marching Tar Heel
On early mornings, you might find University of North Carolina student Sarah Ferguson doing laps around campus, camera in hand, taking advantage of the quiet. Seeing students run in the morning isn’t unique, but Ferguson’s circumstances are: after becoming paralyzed from the legs down in 2020, her morning laps take place in her wheelchair. (
Daily Tar Heel)
New data shows UNC’s statewide impact
UNC has released new fiscal year 2025 economic impact data that shows the influence of North Carolina’s flagship university on the state through the categories of alumni, employees, research and affiliated startups. Alumni are serving communities from rural pharmacies to coastal research labs to small-town city halls to startup accelerators. (
UNC.edu)
Best-selling author, UNC alum Kristy Woodson Harvey delivers speech at New Student Convocation
The class of 2030 and transfer students gathered for New Student Convocation, where bestselling author and UNC alumna Kristy Woodson Harvey delivered a keynote address, encouraging new students to embrace the uncertainty of college and make the most of their time at UNC. Harvey graduated Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude in 2007. (
Daily Tar Heel)
UNC football optimism flows - along with the beer - as Tar Heels take Dublin
It started out as a means of following a country star. Well,
Chase Rice wasn’t a country star yet when Sophie Watkeys, 32, first started following him - he was a UNC football linebacker. Watkeys is from Wales, but her dad got her interested in American football at a young age, and through her love of surfing, fell in love with Wilmington, North Carolina. (
MSN.com)
UNC Libraries is Home to a Special Dolly Parton Recording. Here’s What to Know
People across the United States and around the world are mourning country music legend and philanthropist Dolly Parton, who died on Tuesday at 80 years old. While she is known for her representation of the southern region, there are not too many ties to North Carolina in her backstory – but there is a prized possession tied to her career on UNC’s campus. (
Chapelboro.com)
The Emerald Isle now touched with Carolina Blue
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill chancellor Lee H. Roberts looked around in wonder at the sanctuary of the 800-year-old St. Patrick’s Cathedral in the area known as Medieval Dublin. The building was conceived in the 12th century, constructed of local limestone and features a cruciform-styled nave running the length of a football field. (
UNC.edu)
Merritt’s Grill Opening Second Location in Chapel Hill; Einstein Bros. Bagels Opening First
Merritt’s Grill, whose BLT sandwiches have been a staple of the Chapel Hill, North Carolina culinary scene since the restaurant opened in 1992, is opening a second location at Finley Golf Club. The restaurant will provide dine-in, to-go and catering services inside the newly refurbished Finley clubhouse and will be open to both players and non-players. (
Chapelboro.com)
Tar Heels take their music to Ireland
For five bluegrass students and 105 marching band students at Carolina, the start to this year will be anything but ordinary. Along with about 25 music faculty and staff members, they will travel to Dublin, Ireland. Carolina Bluegrass band director Russell Johnson likes watching his students grow through experiences outside of class. (
UNC.edu)
The top events in Kenan Stadium from the last 10 decades
As the centennial season of Kenan Stadium approaches, the sun has risen and set on a plethora of memorable events held inside its walls. Despite being the setting of 551 UNC football games, it’s not just college football that defines a memorable event in Kenan. Here are some of the top events from each decade of Kenan Stadium’s 100 years of history. (
Daily Tar Heel)