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A reason to celebrate

We have a lot of great things to say about the nation’s oldest public university, but here are just a few reasons to celebrate Carolina this University Day.

Wide shot of Polk Place with students scattered across the lawn
People relax on the lawn of Polk Place on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Thursday April 4, 2019 (Jon Gardiner/UNC-Chapel Hill)

On Oct. 12, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will celebrate its 226th birthday. While the nation’s oldest public university has had a lot to be proud of over the last two centuries, here are a few reasons why all of North Carolinians have something to celebrate this University Day.

Nearly 200 Carolina students participate in service-learning trips over fall, winter and spring breaks each year.

Service areas include hunger and food access, labor rights, sea turtle conservancy and health care access.

Women dig in a garden.

Dental students volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House in Chapel Hill as part of DEAH DAY (Directing Efforts And Honoring Deah And Yusor), an annual day of service held in honor and memory of the late Deah Barakat and Yusor Abu-Salha.

Buckley Public Service Scholars, one of Carolina’s signature service programs for undergraduates, have contributed more than 2 million hours of community service in the past 16 years.

Public service is one of the defining characteristics of Carolina students across all schools.

Two students kneel over wooden board in front of tiny homes

Kirti Patel and Sahil Sethi help build tiny homes.

UNC-Chapel Hill faculty and students have founded more than 375 North Carolina businesses, creating more than 8,900 jobs across the Tar Heel state.

Carolina startups help treat lung disease, bring fresh produce from local farms to grocery stores, provide fun for pediatric hospital patients, increase participation in local government projects and more.

Student in lab coat with gloved hands works at lab bench

A team at the drug discovery lab in Marsico Hall works to develop new cures for disease, with a focus on cancer.

Since December 2016, the Carolina Center for Public Service has hosted or sponsored 22 disaster relief trips throughout North Carolina.

Carolina students, faculty and staff have helped with local disaster relief efforts after hurricanes Florence, Harvey, Irene, Irma, Maria, Matthew and Sandy. And when the weather is good, researchers at the Institute of Marine Sciences spring into action to study the impacts of hurricanes on the community and the environment.

Man carries red UNC boiy onto a dock on the water

UNC Institute of Marine Sciences, Morehead City, North Carolina

The Carolina Student Transfer Excellence Program has helped more than 800 community college students transfer to and graduate from UNC-Chapel Hill since the program’s founding in 2006.

Students throw there graduation caps.

And we’d be remiss not to mention that our campus is one of the most beautiful places on Earth.

Sun goes down and peeks through the Old Well

The Old Well in the fall.