The start of a new chapter
Winter Commencement
More than 1,500 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students will begin a new chapter of their lives Dec. 15 as their degrees are conferred at the University’s annual Winter Commencement. The ceremony, held at the Dean E. Smith Center at 2 p.m., will celebrate students who graduated in August and December.
- 1,545total graduates
- 691undergraduates
- 845graduate students
- 9professional students
Selina Zhang took a computer science class to diversify her resume and to strengthen her medical school applications. She wasn’t sure she would like computer science at all, but there was something about working with computers that excited her.
After she graduates from Carolina this weekend, Zhang will start a software engineering career at one of the biggest, most influential companies in the world: Amazon.
RC Orlan had one dream growing up: to play professional baseball. Instead of playing in the minor leagues right out of high school, he enrolled at Carolina in the fall of 2009 to set himself up for greater success in the future both on and off the field.
After being drafted by the Washington Nationals as a junior in 2012, Orlan began a seven-year career in professional baseball. But before leaving Carolina, he made a commitment to himself that he would finish getting his degree. He’ll achieve that goal on Sunday.
When Gabrielle Scronce was growing up in Vale, North Carolina, the closest doctor’s office was 30 minutes away — just far enough that many residents in the rural town were unable to access proper medical care.
She wants to make that challenge a thing of the past. As she receives her third degree from UNC-Chapel Hill — a doctorate in human movement science — Scronce is prepared to do just that.
Graduation information
Commencement speaker
Grammy Award-winning professor Bill Ferris will deliver the University’s 2019 Winter Commencement address. An expert in Southern folklore, the retired Carolina professor won two Grammys for a multimedia set of photos, film, recordings and writings.
For the graduates
Get all the information you need to celebrate Winter Commencement stress-free. From where to pick up a last minute cap to when the doors open, learn more about about the ceremony details.
For families
With more than 1,500 graduates earning their degrees on Sunday, Chapel Hill will be flooded with friends and family celebrating. Get a head start on the weekend by getting more information on parking and accommodations.
