Total Tar Heels is a digest that provides a behind-the-scenes look at UNC student-athletes and some of the things they do away from competition.Â
 CAROLINA SPOTLIGHT
The Carolina Spotlight feature on the redesigned GoHeels.com highlights student-athletes' achievements outside of athletics. This edition profilesMarika Akkerman (women's tennis) and Alex Cooke (women's track and field), who participated in the Coach for College program last summer.
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For a look at all of the Carolina Spotlight honorees since the feature's launch over the summer, click here.
 ACADEMICS
Academic honors for the 2017-18 school year haven't yet started to come in, but click here for a review of last year's honors, and catch up on a few more below:
• Eight Tar Heels were named All-Academic Individuals and the women's track and field program was named an All-Academic Team for excellence in competition and the classroom during the 2016-17 indoor and outdoor track and field seasons by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
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• Women's lacrosse was honored as a IWLCA Zag Sports Academic Honor Squad for 2016-17, and Elizabeth Haus and Naomi Lerner were named to the Division I Academic Honor Roll.
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• For the second year, Blaine Boyden, now a junior on the men's tennis team, was named an ITA Scholar-Athlete. The award requires a GPA of at least 3.5. Boyden earned All-NCAA Tournament honors last year as he clinched wins that put UNC in the NCAA semifinals and then finals for the first time in program history.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
• The Tar Heel men's lacrosse team partnered with Vs. Cancer to raise money to battle childhood cancer. Players had their heads shaved for the cause at Tar Heel Town, prior to the UNC-Duke football game on Sept. 23. The team has raised more than $24,000 so far and is still taking donations.
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• Members of the UNC volleyball team visited the Charles House Eldercare Center and played balloon "volleyball" with the residents.
Madison, Fricano, Katherine and Raleigh spent time at the Charles' House. They had a lot of fun teaching the game of volleyball! #goheelspic.twitter.com/WAPKzaM2UN
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• It was "Taco Sunday" at the SECU House last week as student-athletes from the Tar Heel diving and rowing teams prepared and cooked dinner for patients and their families.
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• The UNC football team has continued the tradition of visiting the UNC Children's Hospital on Fridays before home games. Be sure to follow UNC football on Snapchat (UNCFB) for a behind-the-scenes look at their visits.
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• Student-athletes from several teams have hosted activity time at the UNC Children's Hospital Pediatric Play Atrium this month.
Volleyball and rowing at the UNC Pediatric Playroom
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• Members of the UNC baseball, gymnastics and men's golf teams spent a recent weekend afternoon at the UNC Pediatric Oncology Family retreat. The weekend provides pediatric patients an opportunity to enjoy a weekend away from the stresses of cancer.
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• The men's golf team spent a recent Friday afternoon practicing putting in a hallway at UNC's Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.
 SAAC
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 * The Student-Athlete Advisory Council has been busy working to enhance the overall student-athlete experience. The group has gathered feedback about NCAA autonomy topics and started planning peer training for student-athlete leaders, in addition to looking ahead to the 2018 Rammy Awards!
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Bryana Nguyen (women's golf) and Taylor Leath (volleyball) are the 2017-18 SAAC Co-Presidents, and each team is represented on SAAC by two or more team members. For a full list of 2017-18 SAAC Representatives, click here.
Richard A. Baddour CAROLINA LEADERSHIP ACADEMY
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• Student-athletes in the Carolina INCUBATE program recently relived the 2016 NCAA Championships with the UNC men's and women's lacrosse teams. The group heard from coaches, athletic trainers, academic support staff, and student-athletes about the ups and down, ins and outs of the 2016 season.
 STUDENT-ATHLETE ALUMNI NEWS
ICYMI: Ezra Baeli-Wang, a 2017 UNC graduate and former men's fencing captain and SAAC Co-President, has been announced as a recipient of a 2017 Athlete Ally Action Award. Congratulations to Ezra!
