Your mobile gateway to Carolina, m.unc.edu, has just added some new features. Now, you can access Carolina through not only your cell phone, but tablets as well.

You can reach the mobile web application by going to m.unc.edu on your web browser on any Internet-enabled mobile device. The site will detect what kind of device you are using and adapt the content to give you the best possible experience. Whether iPhone, Android, iPod Touch, Blackberry, iPad or other tablet, each one gets a look that works best for that device. The mobile web application includes the features listed below:

• New interface for tablets (iPad, etc.)
• Athletics updates and information across all sports
• Campus maps, including maps of residence halls and library locations
• Broader device support across more phones and tablets
• Videos from a variety of campus departments
• Events from events.unc.edu
• Alumni directories search for General Alumni Association members and Kenan-Flagler Business School alumni.
• Search across all modules, including campus directory and maps from the home screen.

Point your device’s browser to m.unc.edu or read more now.

In only her second appearance, UNC Housekeeping Services’ Shernetta Edwards won the Women’s Class C Championship in the 2011 World Horseshoe Tournament on July 30.

Hosted by the National Horseshoe Pitchers Association of America, the tournament drew more than 900 competitors from every state in the nation and countries from around the globe for the two-week competition. Edwards was the first African-American woman to represent North Carolina in the 2010 world horseshoes competition, and this year’s victory makes her the first African-American woman to win a world championship for North Carolina.

Edwards’ story is even more remarkable considering she began competing formally less than two years ago. Clifton Jones, a mason from Facilities Services’ Masonry Shop, saw Edwards pitching horseshoes during Facilities Services’ annual employee appreciation day two summers ago. The veteran pitcher instantly recognized that she was a natural “ringer.” While Jones has competed professionally for more than 20 years at the national level and in four world tournaments, Edwards developed her skills solely from playing in backyard games over the years.

Jones encouraged her to join his local league and the two began training and competing together in area competitions. He even built a regulation-size horseshoe pit for Edwards in her backyard so she could practice anytime.

According to Jones, most people never achieve the level of success Edwards has achieved in just two years. And for those that do, it usually comes after some 30 years of competing.

For her victory, Edwards was awarded a trophy and cash prize, and her name will also go on a brick at the Horseshoe Pitchers Hall of Fame in St. Louis, Mo. Jones finished sixth in his class, and was proud to have also earned a cut of the prize money.

Both Edwards and Jones took an immense amount of pride in representing the University during the international event. Edwards was decked out in Carolina blue throughout the competition and also when she was crowned Women’s Class C Champion.

She noted that it made it even a little bit sweeter to be named champion in Louisiana – the site of two UNC men’s basketball National Championship victories.

Cheers rang out in the Dean E. Smith Center Sunday (Dec. 19) as 2,330 students processed for their graduation from Carolina.

Friends and families with cameras and bouquets had anticipated the mid-winter Commencement ceremony with pride, including the Rev. Quinton Jordan and Judy Jordan of Hertford, N.C.

They came to see their daughter, LaReina Jordan, earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the College of Arts and Sciences. “It’s a milestone in her life,” said Quinton Jordan. “It’s a chance for her to go forward in the future.”

Lane Erickson of Concord, N.C., graduating with a bachelor’s degree in nutrition from the Gillings School of Global Public Health, confessed to a mixture of emotions.

“It’s kind of bittersweet,” she said. “I’m sad about ending my days here at Carolina, but I’m looking forward to the next stage in my life.”

Students marched in to “Procession of the Nobles” by Nikolay Andreyevich, played by the 50-member UNC Ceremonial Band before a stage festooned with ferns and Christmas poinsettias.

“This is your day, and all of us join you in this celebration of your academic achievement,” Chancellor Holden Thorp told the graduates.

Speaker Geoffrey Sayre-McCord, Morehead Alumni Distinguished Professor of Philosophy and department chair, reminded the graduates that they always will be surrounded by invisible, intangible, odorless, and often inaudible, ideas – ideas about who they are, what they can accomplish, what is a problem, and what might be a solution.

“Put yourself in the position to decide which of the ideas you are surrounded by are worth embracing and developing and which are worth changing, and then act accordingly,” he urged. “Only then are you truly autonomous.”

Senior class president Liz Deane cued the students to switch their cap tassels from right to left, signifying their graduation.

Thorp expressed faith in the new graduates: “During your world-changing adventures, remember that you represent Carolina and its values: a love of knowledge, a dedication to freedom and a passion for helping others.

“The University’s motto is light and liberty. When you leave Chapel Hill, you carry that light with you, and I know it will help you transform the future. We can’t wait to watch.”

With joy and passion, Angelique embodies the spirit of Africa. She will perform in UNC’s Memorial Hall on Sunday, Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m.

Through her music, life and commitment to advocacy she exemplifies unity, peace and diversity.

Kidjo has been deemed “Africa’s premier diva” by Time Magazine, and the moniker speaks to the singular career and life she has forged: Like Miriam Makeba was before her, Kidjo is the continent’s most internationally celebrated female musical exponent. And yet, the GRAMMY-winning artist has lived outside Africa for more than two decades. She lives in New York City, where she is an active member of the music scene, and she reaches people around the world with her recordings, tours and philanthropic work.

On 2010’s Õÿö, the veteran Benin-born singer is joined by a backup group — guitarist Lionel Loueke (also a Benin native), drummer Kendrick Scott, bassist Christian McBride and percussionist Ibrahim “Thiokho” Diagne — along with several guest artists. The opener, “Zelie,” written by the Togolese singer Bella Bellow, features Kidjo’s powerful vocals accompanied by Hendrix-like guitar tones. Santana’s “Samba Pa Ti,” which is nicely rendered in Yoruba, has an effective string arrangement, mellow horns, and a solo by trumpeter Roy Hargrove. The great Curtis Mayfield is represented by “Move On Up,” a track that spotlights appearances by Bono and John Legend. “Lakutshona Llanga” is a lullaby made famous by Miriam Makeba, while “Kelele” injects Highlife into the album’s flow. Diane Reeves comes onboard for “Monfe Ran E,” a version of the Aretha Franklin classic, “Baby I Love You.”

For ticket information, contact the Memorial Hall Box Office at 919-843-3333.

Published Oct. 12, 2011.

The Ackland Art Museum has opened its Ackland Museum Store on the corner of Franklin and Columbia streets, in downtown Chapel Hill.

Merchandise in the store has been especially selected to support and reflect the museum’s mission to animate, inspire and transform people’s lives with works of art.

The store’s inventory includes home décor items such as pottery, glass and metalwork; kitchen and tabletop items; jewelry and accessories; children’s toys and books; and stationery. Books about art history and criticism, contemporary art and design, and culture and lifestyles are also available, as well as books by UNC and regional authors and artists’ monographs.

A dedicated gallery space at the Ackland Museum Store features rotating exhibitions of original artworks in a variety of media by local and regional artists and artisans. The premier exhibition features works by seven North Carolina artists who have a connection to Penland School of Crafts – located in Mitchell County – whether as a teacher, student or resident.

The show, “Nothing is Impossible,” features work by Margaret Couch Cogswell (book arts and multimedia), Celia Gray (encaustic paintings), Bryant Holsenbeck (environmental art), Ann Marie Kennedy (paper art and installation), Evan Lightner (furniture), Gretchen McLaren (metal) and Sylvie Rosenthal (woodwork and sculpture).

Hours for the store are: Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m.–8:30 p.m.; and Sunday, noon–5 p.m.

All proceeds from the Ackland Museum Store support the Ackland’s exhibition and education programs.To learn more about the Ackland, see www.ackland.org. Refer to www.ackland.org/visit/store.php to learn more about the Museum Store.

The challenge: translate UNC research to the content and features of a custom-built mobile application. Can you do it?

The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, in conjunction with Innovate@Carolina, announces a call for proposals in support of Carolina Apps, a new initiative to bring Carolina-born ideas to wider audiences through the creation of innovative mobile applications with broad public appeal.

The use of mobile apps in the research, translation, and application of knowledge developed at UNC is a relatively new frontier. To learn more about this emerging tool set and how it may advance the research interests of the UNC community, the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research is contributing up to $40,000 to support the development of a mobile application that will apply UNC research to the content and features. The proposal selected will be developed from concept to finished product with the technical assistance of an external development team within a few months of identification, and will be launched and marketed by the Carolina Apps team.

The competition is open to all UNC faculty, staff, and students, in teams or as individuals, in all disciplinary areas. Proposals must involve the application of research developed at UNC-Chapel Hill, rather than serve primarily to disseminate information, results or collections.

Read more.

Look back at some of Carolina’s special occasions, everyday life and campus scenes in this “year in pictures” video created by University photographer Dan Sears.

Whether blanketed in snow or adorned with dogwoods in full bloom, the beauty of Carolina is evident throughout the year.

Films, lectures, panel discussions, comedy and carnaval will be part of Carolina’s celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month through Oct. 15.

The Carolina Latina/o Collaborative (CLC) has coordinated many free, public events with co-sponsors that include other student organizations, University departments and community groups. All events are free and open to the public.

“Once again we are recognizing the contributions of Latinas and Latinos in the United States as we highlight the passions and interests of all Americans in addressing the issues affecting the largest ethnic minority group in the country,” said Josmell Pérez, director of the CLC.

Dozens of UNC departments, faculty, staff and undergraduate organizations have come together to shape the second annual campuswide celebration of Hispanic culture, politics, art, music, dance, food, religion, academics, gender issues and cross-cultural connections.

The CLC seeks to explore and build collaborative relationships across campus and the community among diverse groups focusing on Latina/o affairs. It offers its space in Craige North Residence Hall for programming that reflects cutting-edge interdisciplinary innovations in scholarship, education, culture and community engagement.

The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402.

Closing the literacy achievement gap between young black males and other students will be the focus of a spring summit convened by UNC-Chapel Hill and North Carolina Central University.

UNC’s School of Information and Library Science and NCCU’s School of Library and Information Sciences will hold the three-day event, “Building a Bridge to Literacy for African-American Male Youth: A Call to Action for the Library Community.” The summit will be in Chapel Hill in spring 2012.

Educators, scholars, researchers, members of national organizations that address the needs of black youth and black youth themselves will be among those debating the issue, identifying helpful resources that already exist, new ones that are needed and how school and public libraries might be able to help.

A $99,074 grant from the federal Institute for Museum and Library Services, which will fund the summit, was awarded to Sandra Hughes-Hassell, a professor in the UNC school. The summit will help to continue her research.

“Including the voices of black youth themselves will be critical to our conversation, so part of the funding will be used to bring in a group of teens from local schools to participate,” Hughes-Hassell said.

Irene Owens, Ph.D., dean of the NCCU school, said, “This will not be a one-shot program. An essential goal of the conference is to establish a means of sustaining the initiative. We have a magnificent partnership between two library and information sciences programs, and we look forward to addressing this important challenge to our society together.”

Read more.

Carolina has offered admission to the fall 2011 entering class to 5,104 candidates who applied by the first of two admission deadlines. The admitted students were chosen from a record first-deadline pool of 14,018 – an increase of 7 percent over last year.

Carolina expects 3,990 new first-year students to enroll next August.

“The students we’ve admitted are terrific, and we’re honored by their interest in Carolina,” said Stephen Farmer, associate provost and director of undergraduate admissions. “It was a privilege for us to get to know these students through their applications – to learn about their achievements and to dream about their potential. We think these students will do great things here at Carolina and far beyond. We look forward to welcoming them next fall.”

Admitted students have taken an average of eight college-level courses (either Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or dual enrollment) at their high schools. Eighty-seven percent of the students rank in the top 10 percent of their class, 50 percent rank in the top 10 and 10 percent rank first. The middle 50 percent of those admitted scored between 1240 and 1450 (critical reading and math combined) on the SAT Reasoning Test. Admitted students averaged 665 in critical reading, 679 in math and 663 in writing.

First-deadline admitted students hail from 97 N.C. counties, 45 U.S. states and 21 countries. Of those students who reported race or ethnicity, 30 percent identified themselves as American Indian, African American, Hawaiian or Pacific Islander or Hispanic. Fourteen percent will be the first generation of their family to graduate from college.

The first deadline for fall 2011 admission was Nov. 1 and the final deadline was Jan. 18. As of Jan. 21, a total of 23,473 applications had been received, surpassing last year’s total of 23,271. This marks the sixth consecutive record year for applications at UNC; during this period, applications to the first-year class have increased by 26 percent.