Karsen Kitchen: Making space history
Weeks after becoming the youngest woman to cross the Kármán line, the proud Carolina senior is “still processing it all.”
It's a great day
to be a Tar Heel
Meet our
Tar Heels
“It’s a great day to be a Tar Heel,” or #GDTBATH, is often proclaimed by many at Carolina — and for good reason. Every day, Tar Heels are creating a positive impact on the world by improving communities and inspiring change through their extraordinary talents. They’re creatives, scientists, humanitarians, athletes, researchers and innovators doing great things.
With the fall semester in full swing, meet some of our students, alumni and staff to find out why every day truly is a great day to be a Tar Heel.
Tar Heel talents
Jonas Laukoter: Feeling at home with writing
The Thomas Wolfe Scholarship winner enjoys the way storytelling can put a smile on someone’s face.
Alyssa Crane: Turning art into business
The first-gen first-year makes and sells paintings and jewelry.
TJ Maske: Cycling toward ‘mental fortitude’
The EXSS major uses music and lessons from exercise and sport science to help Tar Heels de-stress and recharge.
Aranza Vazquez: Finding peace of mind
The four-time National Champion and two-time Olympian focuses on just the platform and the pool.
Luke Elliott: Speaker of eight languages
When the Carolina junior proclaims he is a Tar Heel, you never know what language he might say it in. A love of history and culture and a worthwhile volunteering experience have inspired his multilingualism.
Serving others
In Chapel Hill and beyond, Tar Heels across campus are using their skills and knowledge to make the world a better place.
Bob Goldstein
The Carolina biology professor has helped build 1,000 microscopes for North Carolina schools and has led DIY microscope workshops across the state for nearly a decade.
Samantha Lewis
The Carolina senior wrapped up her summer with a livesaving stem cell donation that was years in the making.
Grace Marley
Reducing overdoses is personal for the Eshelman researcher, who lost a brother to overdose and wants to make naloxone accessible and affordable.
Idania Rodriguez and Garrett Livingston
The two Tar Heels founded Mental H2O, a nonprofit information hub that's designed by youth, for youth.
Sasha Surkin
The Kenan-Flagler senior aims to make quality vision care more accessible and affordable with her award-winning WeyeZE startup.
Sheree Stewart
The School of Social Work graduate student's 24-year military career led her to Carolina and a new way of helping others.
Ready to research
Alexander Smith: Buzzing research
The Carolina senior’s summer studies focused on cicadas’ impact on the local food web.
Jasmine King: Reprogramming solutions to brain cancer
The research assistant professor also mentors Black and brown girls interested in STEM-related research.
Conor Kerr: Bringing research to game day
Now a junior, the student statistician has worked with Carolina men's basketball team since he was a first-year.
Sunita Agarwala: Engineering her dream degree
The Air Force cadet is studying biomedical engineering through a joint program at Carolina and NC State University.
Ria Patel: Analyzing food and brain development
The Carolina junior studies the impact of food insecurity on cognition from childhood to adolescence.
James P. Collins: Addressing natural hazards
The City and regional planning doctoral student went Down East to talk to residents about chronic coastal flooding.
Started at Carolina, excelling everywhere
The education we provide at Carolina puts Tar Heels in position to excel in whatever they choose to pursue.
Click on an alum below to find out how they're using their skills, knowledge and passions to succeed.