University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heels Welcome New School Year
August 27, 2013 | General
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - UNC Athletics celebrated the start of the 2013-14 school year Monday evening with the annual Welcome Back Picnic, held at the Eddie Smith Field House. Hundreds of Tar Heel student-athletes, coaches and staff members enjoyed a barbecue dinner, tried sports other than their own at demonstration stations set up all over the field, and then posed for a giant group photo.
Student-athletes also could visit booths to get information about a range of department and campus services, including the Honor System, Carolina Outreach and Academic Advising. Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) representatives acted as hosts and guides throughout the evening.
At the end of the picnic and its activities, the freshmen gathered for the year's first meeting of the CREED program, the Richard A. Baddour Carolina Leadership Academy program for all first-year student-athletes. Also joining them were the CREED mentors, approximately 80 upperclassmen who volunteer to counsel and lead freshmen student-athletes as they adjust to college life. Their kickoff program included words from UNC track and field coach Harlis Meaders.
"We love to start off the fall this way," said Cricket Lane, Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development. "It's so much fun to get everyone together after the summer, and it's a great kickoff for our CREED program. This year we had our SAAC reps serve as hosts and they were a big help. It seemed like everyone had a great time and left excited about the fall - I know I did!"
