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University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill facts for kids

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University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Old Well and McCorkle Place 2005.jpg
The Old Well
Motto
Lux libertas
Type Public
Established 1789
Endowment $2.2 billion
Chancellor Carol Folt
President Erskine Bowles
Students 28,136
Undergraduates 17,628
Postgraduates 8,177
Location
Chapel Hill
,
North Carolina
,
United States
Campus Suburban
Nickname Tar Heels
Mascot Rameses the Sheep
Website www.unc.edu
References:

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (often called UNC or Carolina) is a well-known university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. It was started in 1789. UNC is special because it was one of the very first public universities in the United States.

UNC was the first public university in the U.S. to actually hold classes and graduate students. Classes began in 1795, and its first students graduated in 1798. Other schools, like the University of Georgia, were founded earlier but started teaching later. The College of William & Mary is older, but it became a public school much later.


What is a Public University?

A public university is a school that gets money from the state government. This often means it costs less for students who live in that state. UNC is a public university, meaning it's supported by the state of North Carolina.

Campus Life and Traditions

UNC's campus is a lively place with many historic buildings and beautiful spots. Students enjoy a mix of learning, sports, and social activities.

Famous Campus Spots

  • The Old Well: This is a famous landmark on campus. Students often drink from it for good luck, especially before exams.
  • Morehead Planetarium: This planetarium opened in 1949. It's a great place to learn about space and science.
  • South Building: This building holds the main offices for the university's leaders.
  • Libraries: UNC has many libraries, including the huge Davis Library, where students can study and find books.

Student Life

Students at UNC can join many clubs and groups. The Dialectic and Philanthropic Societies were started in 1795 and still hold debates today. There are also many events and celebrations, especially on Franklin Street after big sports wins.

Sports at UNC

UNC is famous for its sports teams, known as the Tar Heels. They compete in the NCAA Division I.

The Tar Heels Nickname

The nickname "Tar Heels" comes from North Carolina's history. Long ago, people in North Carolina worked with tar, pitch, and turpentine from pine trees. Workers would get tar on their feet, leading to the nickname.

Rameses the Mascot

The official mascot for UNC is Rameses the Sheep. He's a real ram who attends games and events, cheering on the Tar Heels.

Basketball Legends

UNC is especially known for its basketball team. Many famous players have played for the Tar Heels, including Michael Jordan. He played under legendary coach Dean Smith and helped UNC win a national championship in 1982.

Notable Alumni

Many successful people have graduated from UNC.

Images for kids

  • Silent Sam

    A statue of a Confederate soldier, which was later moved to storage.

  • UNC Chapel Hill panoramic 2017

    A wide view of the main campus area.

  • Morehead Planetarium

    The Morehead Planetarium, a place to learn about space.

  • UNC Seal

    A symbol of the university, located near the South Building.

  • The Morehead Patterson Bell Tower

    The tall Morehead–Patterson Bell Tower, built in 1931.

  • UNC South Building

    South Building, where many university offices are located.

  • The Davis Library, UNC Chapel Hill

    The large Davis Library on campus.

  • North Carolina Collection

    The North Carolina Collection, a huge collection of materials about the state.

  • Dean Smith Center with game in session

    A basketball game happening in the Dean Smith Center.

  • Tarheel water tower

    A water tower with the official UNC athletics logo.

  • Blue Devil and Rameses

    Rameses the mascot at a football game.

  • Franklin Street Celebration

    Students celebrating on Franklin Street.

  • Commencement Ceremony at Kenan Memorial Stadium

    A graduation ceremony in Kenan Memorial Stadium.

  • Dialectic and Philanthropic Societies

    The Dialectic and Philanthropic Societies building.

  • UNC girls

    Students on campus at UNC-Chapel Hill.

  • 2008-07-21 Lenoir Hall

    Lenoir Hall, a building on campus.

  • Old East

    Old East Residence Hall, built in 1793.

  • James Knox Polk by GPA Healy, 1858

    James K. Polk, a former U.S. President who attended UNC.

  • Thomas Wolfe standing outside Vance Hall at the University of North Carolina, 1920

    Thomas Wolfe, a famous writer who studied at UNC.

  • Andy Griffith-Neal-Remick

    Andy Griffith, a well-known actor and comedian from UNC.

  • MichaelJordanDeanSmith

    Michael Jordan (left) and Coach Dean Smith (right) during Jordan's time at UNC.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Universidad de Carolina del Norte en Chapel Hill para niños

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