This will be a celebratory weekend for many across Chapel Hill.

There will be more hustle and bustle as parents filter into the town for commencement.

More than 6,000 students are expected to graduate from Carolina, culminating with the commencement ceremony on Sunday morning in Kenan Stadium.

Dr. Ron Strauss, Executive Vice Provost and Chief International Officer at UNC, says Jason Kilar, a 1993 graduate of Carolina with a background in innovative ideas, will be delivering the commencement address.

“[Kilar] is the former CEO of Hulu and a very active entrepreneur,” Strauss says.

Strauss adds officials at UNC were impressed with another speech Kilar delivered in Chapel Hill.

“When we screened speakers, we got a chance to watch a talk [Kilar] gave at Kenan-Flagler Business School,” he says. “He’s very enthusiastic and an engaged speaker. So, I think it’s going to be a wonderful commencement address.”

Innovation has been a buzzword across the UNC campus in recent months, and Kilar seems a timely fit to deliver the speech.

“The campus is very engaged in both educational innovation and expanding beyond the borders,” Strauss says. “It looked to us that Mr. Kilar was just an exemplar of how you can use a Carolina degree and launch into a world of passion and big impact.”

Commencement will begin at nine o’clock in Kenan Stadium on Sunday, Mother’s Day.

Chapel Hill Transit will provide Tar Heel Express Shuttle Service from 6:45 to 12:30. Chapel Hill Transit shuttles will operate from the Friday Center park and ride lots. Buses will run every 10 to 15 minutes. Shuttles and parking will be free. Riders, and in particular graduates, are encouraged to arrive at the park and ride lots at least one hour prior to the start of the ceremony.

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