Back to school

Chancellor Holden Thorp advised a group of local high school students Monday to pick a university that offers a wide range of academic programs.

UNC has excellent programs and students but the most important thing is that you have the opportunity to find out what it is you love doing" Thorp told eight students in an honors research class at Chapel Hill High School.

Monday afternoon's stop was Thorp's first on a statewide tour. He said his goals for the tour were to encounter inquisitive students and figure out what challenges the University faces.

 Thorp made a deliberate effort to memorize students' names and learn about their interests.

The course has been available for two years at Chapel Hill High. Even though the class is made up of only eight senior students, the course's teacher Tom Herndon said it was a good representation of the high school.

It's a pretty bright group. There are lacrosse players" a cappella singers club leaders — a very broad spectrum" said Herndon, who sported socks with the periodic table.

In the class, students do their own research and each creates a unique final project.

Kent Torell, who's taking the class for the second time, last year studied almost 200 students to determine music's effects on memory. He told Thorp that his results revealed that students who study in silence perform better on exams.

I'm glad my parents didn't know about that; I tried to convince them that I needed to listen to The Who while I was studying"" Thorp said. That was before ear buds existed of course.""

An award-winning chemistry researcher himself"" Thorp told students in the class about UNC's support for undergraduate research.

Thorp told students that UNC invented higher public education and University alumni proved its success.

""My job requires a lot of physical stamina" but I do it because I believe that higher education has the power to lift society" Thorp said. That's why I wake up at 5:30 a.m. and go to bed at 10 p.m.""

Several students expressed interest in studying abroad.

""If I could change something about my college experience" I would have learned more languages and studied abroad Thorp said.

Thorp gave UNC T-shirts and pens to the students and thanked them for having him.

We don't have freshmen (at UNC) that speak that much I'm pretty pleased" Thorp said as he left the school. It's always inspiring to see students so excited about learning.""

Thorp next headed to Asheville for an evening event and meeting with UNC-Asheville Chancellor Anne Ponder.



Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.