Welcome to Carolina!

Dear Carolina Families,

As this year’s National Chairs of the Carolina Parents Council, it is our privilege to welcome you to the UNC-Chapel Hill family! With its prestigious, world-class academic reputation and as a leading research institution, the UNC community offers excellence in academics, research, cultural, social, and athletic experiences in an environment that strengthens academic stature, enriches student development, and provides supportive developmental services. We are Sanjay and Angela Patel, proud parents of two Honors Carolina Tar Heels. Our son, Hayden 24’ Kenan-Flagler graduate, is employed with Ernst & Young (EY) consulting in Atlanta and our daughter Anna Grace 26’ is pre-medicine majoring in Nutrition in the Gillings School of Global Public Health. Carolina has helped prepare both of our students for the changing world with an exceptional education and outstanding collegiate experience.  

The Parents Council is the volunteer leadership group, serving as a voice for all Carolina families as well as an advisory body to New Student & Family Programs. The Carolina Parents Council supports New Student & Family Orientation, Carolina Family Weekend, and other advocacy efforts. During semi-annual gatherings, members dialogue, and partner with faculty and administrators regarding current matters and issues impacting the Carolina community such as safety and wellness, student life, and undergraduate academics. To learn more information about the Carolina Parents Council, including how to join, please visit families.unc.edu.  

Membership in the Carolina Parents Council supports the Carolina Parents Grants Fund, which awards $50,000 annually to student organizations, UNC offices, and academic departments. Since 1985, this program has granted nearly two million dollars to fund initiatives such as FallFest, Carolina Kickoff, Safewalk, the Helping Hand Project, Carolina Latinx Center programming, Monsoon Mehil celebrating South-Asian Art, Women of Worth, W.E.L.L. Ride, Stop the Bleed, Campus EMS, and others, as well as student research, mental health, travel, and publications such as Carolina Scientific.  

Congratulations on becoming a part of the amazing Carolina community! If we can help during your transition, it would be our honor and pleasure to do so. Let’s collaborate on ways to get you involved so that we can continue to make Carolina an extraordinary institution for our students and families.  

Go Heels!  

Sanjay and Angela Patel  

National Chairs, Carolina Parents Council 2024-2025  

P.S. Consider joining us for upcoming Fall events! The Family Football Experience Day is September 21 and Carolina Family is November 1-3, 2024!