General News

Chadwick Boyd ’93 took an untraditional path to becoming a food media personality. The self-taught chef came to UNC Charlotte with plans to study art and architecture. But instead of designing attractive buildings or creating beautiful paintings, he makes delicious meals that help draw family and friends closer together.

Charlotte 49ers defensive end Alex Highsmith has been nominated for the Burlsworth Trophy, which is awarded to the most outstanding football player who began his career as a walk-on and has shown outstanding performance on the field.Highsmith joined the 49ers as a walk-on in 2015 and was awarded a scholarship in summer 2017, following his red-shirt freshman season.

Kaja Dunn, assistant professor of acting in the College of Arts + Architecture, is directing the Cape Fear Regional Theatre production of “No Child,” a play by Nilaja Sun. The Fayetteville, North Carolina, production, which features a set by Tom Burch, assistant professor of scenic design, runs through Sunday, Nov. 17.

The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) has named Manuel Pérez-Quiñones as one of its Distinguished Members. This honor recognizes those ACM members with at least 15 years of professional experience and five years of continuous professional membership who have achieved significant accomplishments or have made a significant impact on the computing field.

Teresa Petty will be the interim dean of the Cato College of Education, effective Jan. 16.Petty, who joined the University in 2005, has served as associate dean of the college since 2016. During her time at UNC Charlotte, she has contributed significantly to the college through scholarship focused on online teaching and learning and the impact of national board certification for teachers and their students.

Chris McDaniel has a message for all UNC Charlotte students interested in becoming an engineer. He wants them to join Engage ME!, where they will get the mentoring and support to thrive in their future career.

Two UNC Charlotte students, originally from Cuba, are helping to keep their father’s dream alive, and their story was featured recently on Charlotte Agenda.Manny Perez, a junior finance major, and his sister, Ana, who is studying political science, help their mother to operate Havana Carolina, a restaurant in Concord.The sibling undergraduates arrived in the United States from Cuba in 2015 with their parents Idael Pérez Maldonado and Dania Ochoa Hernandez.

There are several ways to define a first-generation college student. Whether they’re the first in their family to attend college at all or the first to attend a four-year institution to attain a bachelor’s degree, there is no denying that first-generation students encounter unique experiences different from fellow students with family who can help them navigate college life.On Friday, Nov. 8, UNC Charlotte will celebrate its first-gens by joining other colleges and universities across the country in recognizing National First-Generation College Students Day.

On average, individual households in the 32 counties studied as part of the Urban Institute’s Carolinas Urban-Rural Connection Project give nearly $3,200 each to charities every year.

The College of Health and Human Services will host a free screening of the documentary, “When I Walk,” which chronicles filmmaker Jason DaSilva’s six-year journey following his multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis.