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Weeks of Welcome

By Johnny Andrews and Jon Gardiner, University Communications and Marketing

Campus is busy again as Carolina welcomed back students for the start of the fall semester. New students, part of the University’s largest class ever, took part in annual traditions like move-in and FallFest, and joined others to sip from the Old Well on the first day of classes.

Check out scenes from the past week.

A family members helps their young one move onto U.N.C. campus.

(Johnny Andrews/UNC-Chapel Hill)

Students began moving in on a couple of rainy days in Chapel Hill, unloading dorm items with help from loved ones.

Students watch and participate in their first pep rally of the year

(Johnny Andrews/UNC-Chapel Hill)

Incoming students had the chance to learn Tar Heel cheers, the fight song and alma mater at the annual Rah Rah Car’lina Pep Rally. Held at Carmichael Arena, the event also featured volleyball coach Mike Schall, the Marching Tar Heels and mascots Rameses and RJ.

Student gather to hear speakers at the new Student Convocation held at the Dean E. Smith Center on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

(Jon Gardiner/UNC-Chapel Hill)

More than 6,000 new first-year, transfer and graduate students gathered in the Dean E. Smith Center on Aug. 17 for New Student Convocation. Chancellor Lee H. Roberts shared that not only does the incoming class come from 49 states and 80 countries, but also contains 39 students named Jack and another 39 named Ava. There are 20 who worked at Chick-fil-A before arriving on campus. Tyler Hansbrough ’09, men’s basketball legend, was the keynote speaker.

A student takes part in a game during Fall Fest at Kenan Stadium.

(Jon Gardiner/UNC-Chapel Hill)

After Convocation, students made their way to FallFest. Held this year at Kenan Stadium, FallFest is an opportunity for students to play games, meet fellow students and learn about University resources.

Students gather around the Bell Tower as it is lit for the first time prior to the semester starting.

(Jon Gardiner/UNC-Chapel Hill)

Students gathered the night before FDOC for the annual lighting of the Bell Tower. Students see the iconic landmark lit up in Carolina Blue as they get ready to begin the fall semester.

A student walks up the Old Well found on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to take their first sip from the fountain.

(Johnny Andrews/UNC-Chapel Hill)

Students lined up all day Aug. 18 to take part in the annual FDOC tradition of taking a sip from the Old Well. Students take their first sip with hopes of good luck and a perfect GPA for the semester.

Students line up to take a sip from the Old Well on the first day of classes on August 18, 2025, on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In this photo Chancellor Lee H. Roberts and his wife, Liza, hand out bagels to students.

(Johnny Andrews/UNC-Chapel Hill)

Chancellor Lee H. Roberts and his wife, Liza, joined students by the Old Well to hand out bagels on FDOC. They later greeted students in the Pit to wish Tar Heels good luck as they went off to their first classes of the new school year.

Students eat loco pops in the Pit on the first day of classes.

(Jon Gardiner/UNC-Chapel Hill)

Students cooled down on a hot FDOC with some LocoPops in the Pit. As students settled back into campus life, they had the chance to reunite with old classmates — and maybe make some new friends, too.

A capella groups perform during Sunset Serenade held on Polk Place on August 28, 2025, on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

(Johnny Andrews/UNC-Chapel Hill)

Carolina’s a cappella groups kept the excitement going with the annual Sunset Serenade on the evening of FDOC. Students performed outside Wilson Library in front of a crowd on Polk Place, providing entertainment as the semester began.

A student captures a moment from Sunset Serenade of their fellow students performing an a capella performance.

(Johnny Andrews/UNC-Chapel Hill)

Some moments are worth preserving. While Sunset Serenade was one of the final welcome-back events, the school year is just beginning, with many more memories to be made at Carolina.

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