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Gov. Bev Perdue was the featured speaker today, October 12, at the annual University Day convocation in Memorial Hall. To read the text of Perdue’s prepared remarks click here. To see a video version of her address on the University’s YouTube Channel, go to http://www.youtube.com/user/UNCChapelHill.

Perdue is the 10th North Carolina governor to have appeared at a University Day convocation, according to the North Carolina Collection. Most appeared during their terms of office and were the featured speaker.

University Day (http://www.unc.edu/universityday) commemorates the laying of the cornerstone of Old East, the nation’s first state university building, and the beginning of American public higher education.

To see photos from this morning’s convocation, including the traditional academic procession from the Old Well to Memorial Hall, click here. This photo gallery will be updated throughout the day.

Other highlights from the convocation included performances by student musical groups and the presentation of Distinguished Alumna and Alumnus Awards to Janie Fouke, Santiago Gangotena, Mia Hamm, Walter Hussman and the late William Little. Gangotena brought with him a group of visitors from the Universidad San Francisco de Quito. Recently, Carolina and USFQ began joint research endeavors in the Galapagos Islands, an international partnership that aims to help preserve one of the world’s most treasured living laboratories. For information, see http://uncnews.unc.edu/content/view/2919/68/.

University Day also is a time when Carolina traditionally celebrates new milestones in campus life. This year, the spotlight is on the new Education Center at the North Carolina Botanical Garden, which is being dedicated in a ceremony at 2 p.m. The building is expected to be the first public building in North Carolina to receive the highest level of certification for green architecture. For more information, see http://uncnews.unc.edu/content/view/2849/68/

In conjunction with University Day, Chancellor Holden Thorp has shared on online video address with the campus community that’s now posted at www.unc.edu. The address reflects on the University's accomplishments and challenges over the past year and outlines what the chancellor believes will be important for Carolina to remain successful as one of America's great universities in the future. The direct link is http://www.youtube.com/user/UNCChapelHill.