UNC Campus Connections

Complete coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels Campus Connections.

Lucas: Eric Church’s public service makes him ideal for UNC's 2026 Commencement

Eric Church has been all over the world. He’s played the biggest stages in music. He’s hosted the largest concert in North Carolina’s history. He’s one of three country artists ever to play multiple nights at London’s Royal Albert Hall. He packed three shows at Denver’s famed Red Rocks this summer. And through it all, his heart has never left North Carolina. (UNC.edu)

Country star Eric Church is UNC's 2026 Spring Commencement speaker

World-renowned country musician and avid Tar Heel fan Eric Church will deliver Carolina's 2026 Spring Commencement address. The ceremony will be held in Kenan Stadium at 7 p.m. May 9, 2026. “A proud North Carolinian and one of country music’s most influential voices, Eric Church has long been a devoted Tar Heel fan and supporter of our University." (UNC.edu)

UNC alum, legendary sportscaster Marty Brennaman immortalized with statue at Reds' stadium

Marty Brennaman has been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, the Reds Hall of Fame and the Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame, but he called being immortalized with a bronze sculpture outside Great American Ball Park his greatest honor. Brennaman’s bronze likeness is seated behind the microphone with his scorebook nearby. (MLB.com)

Seven Tar Heels selected for 2025 Distinguished Alumni Awards

Each University Day, UNC honors alumni for their outstanding contributions to UNC and society. This year, the University will present seven Distinguished Alumni Awards at a celebration Oct. 12 at Memorial Hall. Here are this year’s winners: Kristin Acquavella ’93 is an active-duty rear admiral in the U.S. Navy and 4-time national soccer champion at UNC. (UNC.edu)

Local Latin American food truck opens brick-and-mortar restaurant in Chapel Hill

The Latin Effect officially opened its doors at 504 West Franklin St. While the brick-and-mortar restaurant is new, The Latin Effect has been serving customers through their food truck since 2020. Husband-and-wife duo Alberto and Rebecca Chedrani co-own the brand and food truck, but Alberto is the owner of The Latin Effect's brick-and-mortar restaurant. (Daily Tar Heel)

Musician and UNC Alum Tift Merritt, a True North Carolina Gem, Still Has Plenty of Material to Mine

Although born in Texas, Tift Merritt was raised in Raleigh and is a North Carolina girl through and through. She waitressed in Wilmington for a stint after high school before enrolling at UNC in the late ‘90s, where she immersed herself in the creative writing department, studying under Doris Betts and intending to become a fiction writer. (Indy Week)

UNC ranks as No. 1 best value public for 21st straight year

UNC-Chapel Hill delivers both excellence and affordability. Ranked No. 4 among public universities and No. 1 for best value among public institutions in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, Carolina has been ranked among the top 5 public universities for 24 consecutive years and a best value among public universities for 21 years. (UNC.edu)

Former UNC Provost Dick Richardson remembered and honored for decades of service, mentorship

Richard “Dick” Richardson, a former UNC faculty member, department chair and provost, died peacefully at his home June 23 at the age of 90. He dedicated his career to teaching, public service and mentorship. In addition to the many prestigious positions he held at UNC, Richardson was a storyteller, an adviser and a lifelong friend to many. (Daily Tar Heel)

UNC chemists create cleaner future for tires

Researchers at Carolina have introduced a novel chemical method for breaking down rubber waste. The journal Nature recently published the results of the U.S. Department of Energy-funded study, led by Aleksandr Zhukhovitskiy, William R. Kenan Jr. Fellow and assistant professor in the chemistry department of the UNC College of Arts and Sciences. (UNC.edu)

The history of neighboring towns Chapel Hill and Carrboro

Chapel Hill was founded with the purpose of serving the University. Originally organized by UNC's Board of Trustees, residents first arrived in 1795 — the same year the University opened its doors to students. Carrboro, on the other hand, was developed independently from the University. The town was initially developed around a railroad spur in 1882. (Daily Tar Heel)

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