2023
UNIVERSITY DAY
Thursday, October 12 | 11:00 a.m., Memorial Hall
Commemorating the Laying of the Cornerstone of Old East on October 12, 1793
Greetings
Welcome to the 230th birthday of the nation’s first public university! On this day, our university comes together as a community to celebrate our founding and recommit to our mission of teaching, research and service. It is an opportunity to remember our storied past and dream together about our future.
This year’s theme is central to everything we do as a university: service to the state of North Carolina. We will recognize the groundbreaking work of our world-class faculty, dedicated staff and outstanding students that makes a difference in the lives of the people of North Carolina. Our home is not just Chapel Hill, but all 100 counties across our state. We have the privilege today of highlighting some of the ways we serve, from improving rural health care to educating children in our public schools.
Throughout our 230-year history, the taxpayers of North Carolina have invested in higher education. We are passionately public because of this partnership. We serve our state, and our state commits to us in return. It is this dedication from people from the mountains to the coast that makes Carolina’s excellence possible. We will never forget what we owe to our citizens.
I want to thank all the constituencies represented during the program today for their support of our beloved university. Thank you for joining us to celebrate this special occasion. Happy University Day 2023!
KEVIN M. GUSKIEWICZ CHANCELLOR