Chatting with Miss UNC candidate Meghan Cabell

Born and raised in Chapel Hill, Meghan Cabell, a political science major and education minor, made it her mission to embrace every aspect of University life.

From being an orientation leader for two summers to storming Franklin Street after the game against Duke University in the spring, UNC has given Cabell her fair share of memories.

And Cabell has learned how to work with many different students at UNC as the campus campaign coordinator for Teach for America.

But now Cabell wants to give back, which is why she decided to run for Miss UNC.

“My community service project will be benefiting Victory Junction,” Cabell said.

Victory Junction is a summer camp for children with serious illness who can’t go to a typical camp, she explained. The camp was founded by former NASCAR driver and racing analyst Kyle Petty.

More than 17,600 campers have attended camps at Victory Junction since it opened in 2004. The camp is free for participants and staffed by volunteers. Victory Junction estimates the cost of a camper’s experience is $2,500.

Cabell is also a member of the Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority at UNC and the club field hockey team, which recently won a national championship.

Cabell worked as a member of the Victory Junction camp staff all summer long.

“It would benefit the UNC community,” Cabell said. “A lot of the kids that go to camp often times go to (N.C.) Children’s Hospital.”

Cabell said the camp, which is located only an hour away in Randleman, is deeply influenced by the University.

“(Victory Junction) could really benefit from more UNC students knowing about (it),” Cabell said.

Most camps do not have the equipment, medical personnel and resources to house children with serious medical illnesses, which is why Victory Junction is so important to the campers who have the opportunity to attend the summer camp.

During her time at Victory Junction, Cabell fostered her sense of adventure by operating the camp’s zipline.

She explained how that is just one of the many experiences the camp has used special equipment to adjust to make it possible for everyone to participate.

“Camp changes the lives of these kids,” Cabell said.

“A lot of them are in the hospital for over half the year and can’t do much else.”

university@dailytarheel.com