CHAPEL HILL– The UNC Athletic Department launched a new Academic All-Stars program that invites participating elementary schools to pick two outstanding students in each grade to be recognized at an upcoming football game.

Each selected student will get four tickets to either the Old Dominion or Duke home football games in November where they will receive a certificate for their accomplishments in the classroom and be publicly recognized during the game.

Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham says he is looking forward to welcoming  the children to campus and affording them a memorable experience this fall.

“This program is a great way for the athletic department and football program to give back to the elementary schools in our state by offering an exciting day at Kenan Stadium as an incentive for scholastic achievement.  Our mission is to educate and inspire through athletics and this program is a perfect example of what we are trying to achieve,” Cunningham says.

With three weeks still remaining until the deadline, elementary school students have already reserved more than 2,700 tickets for the Duke game and more than 2,000 for the Old Dominion game.