Approximately 400 students in the UNC School of Dentistry spread around several organizations and locations on Thursday for DEAH DAY – a day of service honoring Deah Barakat and Yusor Abu-Salha, who were shot and killed in February 2015.

Barakat was a student in the School of Dentistry in Chapel Hill and Yusor, his wife of just a few weeks, was set to join him last fall. But the newlyweds and Yusor’s sister, Razan, were shot and killed by a neighbor in their apartment complex.

The world quickly focused on Chapel Hill after the three Muslim students – dubbed ‘Our Three Winners’ – were killed. And quickly the world found out about the impact these three young people had on those around them.

To carry on the legacy of doing good in the world and helping those in need, students in the School of Dentistry participated in the inaugural Day of Service last fall.

Chancellor Carol Folt said it is heartwarming to see students want to carry on that legacy.

“I’m very moved by it,” Folt said. “I’ve gotten to know Deah’s family very well. I think the students that continue DEAH DAY and the faculty and staff are so sincere, they became so involved. Clearly, they got to know the extraordinary students from the start. But this feeling that the community could actually honor lives by spreading that mission of service forward is so deeply motivating. It’s a part of the grand mission that we hear in our students. And so that’s what it means to me every time I see them come together; I think this is so sincere and from the heart.”

The community service event is scheduled to continue to be held annually. The School of Dentistry cancels classes and closes most clinics on that day.

Related Stories
‹
Police: UNC Student Victim of Carjacking in W. Franklin Street Parking Deck
Chapel Hill Police are investigating the carjacking of a UNC student that took place early Saturday morning. No injuries are reported.
Honoring Chapel Hill's Black Builders: UNC Landmarks and the Local Faces Who Built Them
Maps are storytellers, but they can exclude certain narratives. Fowota Mortoo said that’s the case for Chapel Hill’s Black builders.
No More Coal? Chapel Hill Prepares for Hearing on UNC's Co-Gen Plant and Potential New Fuel Source
Chapel Hill Town Hall will host a hearing on Thursday to take comments on a potential alternative fuel source for UNC's cogeneration plant.
Photo Gallery: Chapel Hill Sees First Snow in Years
For a few hours over the weekend, the greater Chapel Hill community was in a winter wonderland. A winter storm blanketed Orange County and the surrounding area with a thin layer of snow on Friday. Overnight on Saturday, it was later packed down or rinse away by freezing rain, which its own layer of ice […]
UNC: Ridge Road Open to One Lane After Month-Long Closure, Still 2 Weeks From Normal Traffic
Ridge Road on UNC campus is allowing vehicles and pedestrians through once again. But normal traffic patterns are likely still weeks away.
Chapel Hill Police Investigate Pair of Overnight Armed Robberies Reported 8 Minutes Apart
A pair of armed robberies reportedly took place less than ten minutes from each other during the early morning hours of Saturday, according to Chapel Hill Police.
Chapel Hill Jeweler Contributes 'Blue Crown' Prop to Latest Season of Netflix's 'Outer Banks'
Chapel Hill jeweler William Travis Kukovich was hired to create the Blue Crown, a featured prop, for Netflix's new season of "Outer Banks."
Sancar Scholars Residence in Development to Support Visiting Turkish Academics and Students
Construction is underway for the Sancar Scholar Residence, which will provide accommodations for visiting Turkish scholars and students.
UNC Wrestler Charged With Felony Assault, Suspended from Team
UNC wrestler Jace Palmer has been charged with felony aggravated assault after punching a fellow student. An incident report from the Chapel Hill Police Department says the assault took place on Monday afternoon at 828 Purefoy Road in Chapel Hill, near the intersection with Howell Street south of the UNC campus. According to court records, […]
A New Chapel Hill Bar Pays Homage to Historic UNC Facility and A Beloved Pet
Wednesday marks the opening of Max's Tin Can in Chapel Hill, a bar the owner says he wants to become a "neighborhood local" for downtown.
›