More than 6,000 first-year and transfer students celebrated the beginning of their Carolina journey at New Student Convocation on Aug. 16 at the Dean E. Smith Center.
Chancellor Lee H. Roberts welcomed the students by sharing some facts about the group. The 6,272 new students represent 99 of North Carolina’s 100 counties, 47 states and 55 countries. There are 42 Elizabeths and 48 Williams, and 1,167 first-generation students.
Roberts looked back on the story of Carolina’s first student, Hinton James, who made the 170-mile journey from Wilmington to Chapel Hill on foot — no car, Google Maps or anyone helping move his belongings into a residence hall.
“He could not have known what this University would become,” he said. “He could not have known what was waiting for him here, and tonight, neither can you.”
Keynote speaker Kristy Woodson Harvey ’07, a New York Times bestselling novelist, gave the students a simple piece of advice: Have fun. She expanded on that with five things to remember, based on her experience at Carolina:
- You’ll bond with people you never would have considered talking to because they also strongly dislike Duke athletics.
- You’ll suddenly attend events you never imagined.
- It won’t be all sunshine and roses. There will be a moment, or a few, where you think you’ve made the wrong choice, or think you can’t do it.
- You’ll attract other Carolina people. They’re everywhere.
- You’ll tear up every time you hear “Carolina in My Mind.”
Other speakers included Ja’Khari Bryant, senior class president; Kelli Blue, chair of the UNC System Board of Governors; Magnus Egerstedt, executive vice chancellor and provost; James Orr, senior vice provost for student success; and Devin Duncan, student body president.
The ceremony ended with the reveal of the Class of 2030 logo and a rendition of “Hark the Sound” from Tar Heel Voices. Students left the arena bound for FallFest, another Weeks of Welcome tradition, held this year around the Pit.
See some of the most memorable moments and quotes from the celebration.
