Celebrating University Day, Oct. 12

Dear Carolina Community,

We invite you to join us for our annual University Day ceremony at 2 p.m., Oct. 12, in Memorial Hall to celebrate Carolina’s 228th birthday. Our campus first recognized University Day in 1877, which marks the 1793 laying of the cornerstone of Old East, the nation’s first state university building, and the beginning of public higher education in the United States. Classes will be canceled from 1:45 to 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 12 to allow for attendance.

We are pleased to welcome UNC System President and Carolina alumnus Peter Hans as the University Day speaker. This year marks the System’s 50th birthday and, together with President Hans, we look forward to celebrating all that we have accomplished for the State of North Carolina and beyond.

University Day is also a time to honor our Distinguished Alumna and Alumnus Award winners. This year’s recipients are:

• Michele Gross Buck, chairman of the board, president and CEO for The Hershey Company;
• Vincent L. Carter, ESPN NBA analyst and former professional basketball player;
• Estelle Louise Fletcher, Academy Award-winning actress;
• Rodney E. Hood, immediate past chairman and current board member of the National Credit Union Administration;
• Eugene Y. Lao, chief legal officer, Prime Core Technologies;
• Norman E. Sharpless, director, National Cancer Institute;
• John D. Swofford, commissioner, Atlantic Coast Conference (retired); and
• Julian D. Wiles Jr., playwright, director, designer and educator.

In keeping with tradition, we will also present the Edward Kidder Graham Award and the Rebecca Clark Award for Moral Courage. This year’s recipient of the Edward Kidder Graham award is Kathryn E. Moracco, associate professor, Gillings School of Global Public Health and associate director of the UNC Injury Prevention Research Center. The Rebecca Clark Award will be given to Patricia Harris, director of recruitment, UNC School of Education and previous vice chair of the Carolina Black Caucus.

We are also pleased to share that the O. Max Gardner Award, which is given to one outstanding faculty member from all UNC institutions, will be presented at this year’s ceremony. Ralph S. Baric, William R. Kenan, Jr. distinguished professor in the department of epidemiology and professor in the department of microbiology and immunology in the Gillings School of Global Public Health is the worthy recipient of this award, one of the Board of Governors’ highest honors.

We will not hold a traditional procession this year, and attendees will be required to follow all COVID-19 Community Standards, including wearing a mask indoors at Memorial Hall. Faculty may choose whether to wear academic regalia. Staff planning to attend the ceremony should seek prior approval from their supervisor.

For more information, please visit the University Day website. We look forward to celebrating with you on Oct. 12.

Sincerely,

Kevin M. Guskiewicz
Chancellor

Robert A. Blouin
Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost