Carolina Athletics and Carolina Performing Arts launched a new campaign, “Artists Are Athletes/Athletes Are Artists,” to highlight parallels between sport and the arts.

“I knew we had to juxtapose the leading artists Carolina Performing Arts brings to Carolina’s stages and classrooms with the athletic prowess the University is known for,” said Alison Friedman, the James and Susan Moeser Executive and Artistic Director of Carolina Performing Arts.

Watch: CPA/men’s basketball | CPA/women’s soccer

Commended by the White House as a model of progress in cancer research, the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center received a visit from White House Chief Science and Technology Advisor Arati Prabhakar.

Twice a recipient of Cancer Moonshot funding from the White House, UNC Lineberger has been a leader on fronts such as tobacco cessation and prevention, improved cancer screening and hard-to-treat cancers such as endometrial cancer.

“I’m heartened by the progress you’ve made, and we all know we need to do more,” Prabhakar said. “It was just such a pleasure to dig in and see the quality of work and commitment you bring to this work.”

The third week of March was a good time for Tar Heels to win national titles. Diver Aranza Vazquez became just the second female athlete to win multiple individual national titles when she claimed the one-meter and three-meter championships within 24 hours.

A day later, wrestler Austin O’Connor took home the 157-pound national title by defeating Levi Haines of Penn State. The championship was O’Connor’s second, having won the 149-pound title in 2021.

A farmers market, pedal-powered smoothies and a creek cleanup were some of the fun ways Carolina celebrated Earth Day, focusing on sustainability and protecting the environment.

Carolina celebrated its nearly 6,500 “Jordan Year” graduates at Spring Commencement. Graduating Tar Heels came together after years of hard work, late nights and determination, and heard from Commencement speaker Bryan Stevenson, who told them, “Your hope is your superpower.”

Following a successful project addressing youth unemployment, Carolina Across 100 announced a new program, “Our State, Our Wellbeing,” in collaboration with the UNC Suicide Prevention Institute to implement strategies to prevent suicide and suicidal ideation and improve resources available for mental and behavioral health.

“Every suicide is a tragic event,” said Anita Brown-Graham, Gladys Hall Coates Distinguished Professor of Public Law and Government at the UNC School of Government. “Our goal with this project is to help North Carolina communities get more involved in prevention efforts.”

Chancellor Kevin M. Guskiewicz announced that beginning with the incoming class in 2024, Carolina will cover tuition and mandatory fees for in-state undergraduates whose family income is less than $80,000.

“This promise broadens that tradition established by successful and inspiring programs such as the Carolina Covenant and Blue Sky Scholars, among others,” Guskiewicz wrote in a campus message. “We want to make sure students know financial constraints should not stand in the way of their dreams.”

The Carolina community experienced pain and fear in ways we should never have to when a faculty member, Dr. Zijie Yan, was killed in a campus shooting incident on Aug. 28.

In the following days, Tar Heels mourned the loss of Yan and leaned on each other for support. “I encourage you to continue supporting your fellow Tar Heels,” Chancellor Kevin M. Guskiewicz said at the time. “We need each other, and we can’t face the challenges of our world alone.”

Carolina ranked fourth among public universities in U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 Best College rankings, also holding first place among public institutions in the best value category.

The University ranked 22nd overall among public and private universities, moving up seven positions from the prior year.

One way Carolina remains committed to serving the state is through the Tar Heel Bus Tour, a trip taken by Carolina faculty members and senior administrators to learn about the University’s work throughout the state and hear from North Carolinians about their needs and how Carolina can partner to help solve challenges they face. This year’s Bus Tour took 75 Tar Heels to 19 counties, making 21 stops and covering 1,000-plus miles.

Read Bus Tour Participant Reflections | Watch a Bus Tour recap

Davis Library added a piece of history when it acquired a 19th century printing press that will one day provide hands-on learning opportunities for students.

Donated by the Peterson family, the 1884 Luigi Ghisi Albion press should become operational in the spring, with plans for use as a demo press to teach students about the history of printing. “We’re interested in creating spaces where students can engage with learning as a hands-on activity and do some of the things that they’re learning about, theoretically, in classes,” said Elizabeth Ott, interim associate University librarian for special collections and director of Wilson Library.

The Dec. 17 Winter Commencement ceremony recognized that the Class of 2023 experienced many challenges and excitements — from the COVID-19 pandemic to incredible basketball wins — and offered a chance to reflect on the graduates’ hard work and look forward to a lifetime of unexpected opportunities.

The 1,400-plus new Tar Heel graduates received guidance and votes of confidence from University leaders and Commencement keynote speaker Dr. Samantha Meltzer-Brody.