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50+ memorable Carolina moments, stories and achievements from 2025

Look back at the year that was for Tar Heels — from research breakthroughs and accolades to the largest incoming class ever and national championships.

Published Dec. 17, 2025

Nighttime photo of the Morehead-Patterson Bell Tower lit Carolina Blue with

In 2025, Tar Heels made research breakthroughs, earned prestigious honors, won national championships and continued to be leaders for our local community, state, nation and world.

Look back at the year that was for Tar Heels.

First. and
For All

A testament to the University’s ability to deliver excellence and affordability, Carolina was named the No. 4 public university by U.S. News & World Report while also earning No. 1 best value public honors for the 21st consecutive time.

The University’s graduate and online programs also ranked among the best in the nation, and UNC-Chapel Hill was once again named a “new Ivy” by Forbes.

Morehead-Patterson Bell Tower on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill with clouds seen in the background.

In a move that recognizes the University’s academic prowess and accessibility to all as well as Carolina’s distinction of being the birthplace of public higher education, UNC-Chapel Hill introduced a new brand campaign in November: First. And For All.

The campaign was powered by feedback from the Carolina community — thousands shared what they feel unites Tar Heels across the world —and included the adoption of the interlocking NC, one of the University’s earliest marks, as Carolina’s official logo.

Old Well on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill on a sunny day with fall foliage seen as well as pole banners reading

Around campus

Tar Heels share ‘one good thing’

In a heartwarming Instagram reel that received millions of views and inspired viewers across the world, Tar Heels stepped up to a microphone on Polk Place and shared “one good thing” that happened throughout their day. From receiving an internship offer and hanging outside with friends to petting a dog and having a nice phone call with mom, these students illustrated there’s so many everyday things to celebrate.

 

Video screengrab of a UNC-Chapel Hill student speaking into a University branded microphone. Overlayed is text reading,

230 years ago, he became the first Tar Heel

On Hinton James Day (Feb. 12), the first Tar Heel student — who walked from Wilmington to Chapel Hill in 1795 — returned to campus.

Read about James and watch him check out the modern day Carolina campus.

Photo of a UNC-Chapel Hill student dressed up as Hinton James placed above a grayed out aerial image of UNC-Chapel Hill. Text is overlayed reading,

Tar Heels revel in the snow

Chapel Hill had multiple snowfalls early in the year, with the biggest coming in February. Tar Heels made snow angels, helped a snowman take his first sip at the Old Well and attended the men’s basketball team’s win over NC State.

Check out photos and videos from the fun and look back at Tar Heel snow day traditions.

A snowman at the fountain of the Old Well at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Medical students make matches

In March, nearly 200 fourth-year students at the UNC School of Medicine celebrated and participated in the decades-old Match Day tradition of finding their placements for the next steps in their careers.

Read more about Match day, see photos and read profiles of Tar Heels pursuing health careers.

A UNC-Chapel Hill medical student posing for a group photo with five family members or friends at Match Day while holding up an

New Montross award, honoree represent legacies of service

At the Carolina Center for Public Service’s annual award presentation in April, UNC-Chapel Hill honored two dearly missed Tar Heels. The new Montross Award — in honor of former Tar Heel basketball great Eric Montross ’94 who died of cancer in 2023 — recognizes a Carolina student-athlete who exemplified outstanding engagement and service to the state through a specific effort.

The award’s first recipient was the late Tylee Craft, a Tar Heel football player who died of cancer in 2024 but advocated for lung cancer awareness and inspired many as he dealt with illness.

Learn more about Montross, Craft and the new award. 

A graphic with photos of Tylee Craft and Eric Montross with text reading,

 Carolina celebrates Class of 2025 with rousing Mia Hamm speech

One of Carolina’s biggest stars returned home and spoke to new Carolina graduates at Spring Commencement. Soccer star and philanthropist Mia Hamm told graduating Tar Heels they’ll always have a home to come back to in Chapel Hill. “Aways and forever, you’ll be a part of this team. Our team. Graduates of the University of North Carolina,” she said.

Watch Hamm’s speech, look back at the ceremony and meet the Class of 2025.

Mia Hamm in a black robe speaking to UNC-Chapel Hill graduates from a podium at Kenan Stadium during Spring Commencement.

We’ll always have ‘Summer’

When the third season of Carolina alumna Jenny Han ’02’s hit streaming show “The Summer I Turned Pretty” premiered in July, many recognized the Carolina campus as a filming location.

Tar Heel viewers spotted iconic campus locations, and some from the Carolina community played a role in the 2024 filming behind the scenes and as extras. The UNC Visitors Center launched a TSITP tour and even hosted a series finale viewing party at the Varsity Theatre on Franklin Street.

Lola Tung (Belly) and Gavin Casalegno (Jeremiah) smiling at each other on McCorkle Place, with Graham Memorial Hall visible in the background.

Chancellor Roberts turns heads with his summer fit

So enthused by Spring Commencement, Chancellor Lee H. Roberts decided to make his Carolina Blue robe his everyday wear over the summer.

Look at some of the feedback he encountered across campus and watch how he welcomed Tar Heels back to Chapel Hill for the fall semester.

The back of Chancellor Lee H. Roberts seen walking away in a Carolina Blue robe down a brick pathway on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill.

Carolina welcomes largest incoming class

Campus became much busier once new and returning Tar Heels made their way to campus in mid August. Carolina’s incoming class was its largest ever and included 5,094 first-year students and 1,097 transfer students.

Meet some of the newest Tar Heels and look back at Weeks of Welcome, including move-in, Convocation, first day of classes and first sips at the Old Well, and Sunset Serenade.

 

 

A UNC-Chapel Hill students smiling as he carries bags and boxes toward his residence hall during move-in.

Remebering Zijie Yan

On Aug. 28, two years after the death of Zijie Yan, an associate professor of applied physical sciences, the University dedicated a memorial site in his honor. Rich Superfine, a colleague of Yan and a woodworker, and his APS colleagues made a memorial bench together in concert with the Carolina Tree Heritage Program.

Rich Superfine placing a white carnation on the newly dedicated bench to the late Zijie Yan in the Caudill Labs courtyard on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill.

Meet Carolina’s crossing guards

Whiz and Rita, Carolina’s South Road crossing guards, bring a smile to thousands of Tar Heels every day. In this Carolina Minute video, they explain why they love their jobs and what it means to be a part of the University community.

Two-photo collage: UNC-Chapel Hill crossing guard Whiz fist-bumping a student on a scooter; and crossing guard Rita smiling at a student as she crosses the street.

Go inside the huddle of Chapel Thrill Game Day

Musicians like Chase Rice and Ludacris entertained Tar Heel fans with stellar on-campus performances before Carolina football games this fall. Their shows were a part of the new Chapel Thrill Game Day series that transformed Polk Place into a concert venue.

Read about how Carolina employees turned campus into a “big-time football environment” on Saturdays.

Large crowd of Tar Heel fans at the Chase Rice concert on Polk Place on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill prior to the UNC-TCU football game.

 Bell Hall will be ‘a place where ideas ignite’

UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School opened Bell Hall in November and celebrated the new modern building that will allow the school to enroll more students and expand services for its scholars. Bell Hall doubles the space for teaching and student life, solving a chronic space shortage and enabling UNC Kenan-Flagler to admit more students to study business.

Read more about the new space.

Wide-angle shot of many people, spread across multiple floors of Bell Hall, celebrating its grand opening on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill as confetti falls.

A legacy continues

Carolina closed out the year by honoring 1,444 new graduates at Winter Commencement in December. These newest alumni joined the ranks of more than 371,000 living Tar Heel alumni. At the Dean E. Smith Center, they celebrated with their classmates and heard from Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and Carolina professor Kathleen DuVal, who told them, “I am confident that all of you are going to keep learning and thinking the rest of your lives, whatever you do to make your living.”

Look back at the ceremony and meet Carolina’s newest graduates.

UNC-Chapel Hill graduates tossing their caps up into the air in celebration at the conclusion of Winter Commencement inside the Dean E. Smith Center.

Standout students

Phenomenal faculty

Read more stories on Carolina faculty and staff

Carolina’s research impact

Carolina across
the state

Forever
Tar Heels

University of
National Champions

2025 marked another great year for Carolina athletics as three Tar Heels won individual national titles and Carolina picked up its 63rd team national championship. The Tar Heels also captured four conference championships, becoming the first school to reach 300 Atlantic Coast Conference championships.

Read more stories about Tar Heel athletics.

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