UNC Campus Connections

Complete coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels Campus Connections.

Chapel Hill-Carrboro Openings, Closings and Updates in January-March 2026

Kipos Greek Taverna returned to operations in Eastgate Crossing after months of restoration following Chantal’s flooding last summer. Located in the back corner of the shopping center, the restaurant suffered severe water damage, but worked hard to welcome customers back on February 21. Kipos also added back its lunch and brunch hours. (Chapelboro.com)

UNC Journalism School Takes Hearst Prize for 8th Consecutive Year

The University of North Carolina Hussman School of Journalism and Media won the overall intercollegiate first place title at the Hearst Journalism Awards Program’s Intercollegiate Writing, Photojournalism, Broadcast and Multimedia competitions. The victory marks the school’s eighth year in a row claiming the top national prize in student journalism. (Carolina Alumni Review)

How To Spend A Weekend In Chapel Hill, According To A Local

Pulling into Chapel Hill, is special, so drive up slowly. As you cruise along the main drag, Franklin Street, you’ll approach the heart of the campus of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A leisurely pace will be rewarded by a canopy of ancient willow oaks lining the wide boulevard; they frame the sky, stretching their limbs out like old friends. (Southern Living)

Carolina astronomers capture images of the cosmos

The difficulties associated with obtaining these rare glimpses of the cosmos make the stories behind them all the more mesmerizing. The UNC College of Arts and Sciences’ physics and astronomy department recently assisted with the capture of several astronomical objects and events that helped us learn more about the nature of our distant universe. (UNC.edu)

Hometown Hero: UNC Scientist Nabarun Dasgupta

Nabarun Dasgupta is an epidemiologist who heads up UNC’s opioid data lab. They help people with substance use by giving them information about what substances they’re actually using by analyzing street drugs. When someone has an emergency or is seeking help, there could be other harms associated with the mixes in the substances. (Chapelboro.com)

The Most Mouthwatering Burger in North Carolina Is Waiting For You at Al’s Burger Shack

Ask a University of North Carolina student where to find the best burger in the state, and they’ll point you to Al’s Burger Shack. Al’s has four locations, including one right in the shadows of UNC. Other locations are in Leland, Apex, and a second one in Chapel Hill. No matter which location you visit, you’re in for one of the best burgers you’ve ever had. (Only In Your State)

31 Carolina faculty named ‘highly cited researchers’

UNC has 31 faculty on Clarivate’s 2025 list of Highly Cited Researchers, recognizing those who have demonstrated significant and broad influence in their fields of study. Each researcher has authored multiple papers that rank in the top 1% by citation for their field and publication year in Clarivate’s Web of Science platform over the past 11 years. (UNC.edu)

UNC Alumni on Pulitzer-Winning Journalism Teams

Three alumni of the Hussman School of Media and Journalism — Brian Cassella ’05, Alex Kormann ’19 and Emmy Martin ’25 — were part of reporting teams whose work won Pulitzer Prizes, among the most prestigious honors in journalism. Jason Armond ’19 was on a finalist team. Cassella has been a photojournalist for the Chicago Tribune since 2009. (Carolina Alumni Review)

Eric Church Uses His Guitar To Deliver Powerful Commencement Speech At UNC

UNC-Chapel Hill held its 2026 graduation ceremony, and the commencement address was delivered by North Carolina native and diehard Tar Heel fan Eric Church. And it was unlike anything you’ve ever heard. Church, of course, found a way to put his own – musical – spin on the graduation speech, and broke out his guitar to deliver some powerful lessons. (Whiskey Riff)

Carolina Performing Arts Unveils Multi-Day Performance Festival for ‘Campus and Downtown’

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and, in our modern society, many people are struggling with loneliness and finding connection with others. Alison Friedman, the Executive and Artistic Director for Carolina Performing Arts, says helping address that is at the core of her department’s new festival - called “All. Together. Now.” - unveiled on Tuesday. (Chapelboro.com)

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