UNC students and other members of the campus community gathered last weekend to do some good across the community and remember the life of a former student who was known for volunteering and having a passion for helping others.

More than 400 volunteers provided more than 1,100 hours of service at more than 34 sites across five counties on Saturday, delivering food with Meals on Wheels, constructing homes with Habitat for Humanity, clearing debris from trails and restocking supplies in food pantries. They did all of this work on what’s known in the UNC Adams School of Dentistry as DEAH DAY, which stands for Directing Efforts And Honoring Deah and Yusor.

The annual day of service began after Deah Barakat, his wife Yusor Abu-Salha and her sister Razan Abu-Salha were murdered in Chapel Hill in February 2015. Barakat was a student in the school of dentistry, and Yusor was set to join him. Razan was an undergraduate student at North Carolina State University.

Dean of school of dentistry at Carolina Scott De Rossi said in a release that DEAH DAY “is incredibly special to our school community.”

Deah was known across the school and the Triangle for his volunteer work, especially focusing on feeding those in need and providing dental service to underserved communities, locally and abroad. He and Yusor were planning to travel to Turkey to assist Syrian refugees there, but they were never able to take that trip.

The three Muslim college students were shot and killed just weeks after Deah and Yusor were married. Razan was visiting the newlyweds for dinner at their apartment in Finley Forest Condos in Chapel Hill.

Craig Hicks also lived at the complex and was viewed by other residents as someone with a quick temper and a love of firearms, according to the investigation following the murders.

Hicks entered a guilty plea to the three murders earlier this year. Families of the victims have continued to call the act a hate crime, but federal prosecutors did not ultimately bring those charges. Hicks was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences for the killings.

The inaugural DEAH DAY was held by students in the school of dentistry in September 2015 and has continued annually. Barakat’s brother also continues to carry on many volunteer projects in Deah’s name.

Photo via UNC Adams School of Dentistry

Related Stories
‹
UNC Schools of Nursing and Dentistry Name New Deans
UNC chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz announced on Wednesday that he had selected two new deans for the UNC School of Nursing and the Adams School of Dentistry. Dr. Valerie Howard was chosen for the School of Nursing, while Dr. Janet Guthmiller will lead the School of Dentistry. We are delighted to share that Valerie Howard, vice […]
UNC Adams School of Dentistry Offers Free Dental Care for DEAH DAY
Since 2015, the UNC Adams School of Dentistry has a day where it gives back to the community to honor its late students Deah Barakat and Yusor Abu-Salha. This year, the school is offering free dental care for its recognition of DEAH DAY. The school will have appointments for community members on Wendesday, October 7, for […]
Chapel Hill Declares February 10 ‘Our Three Winners Day’
The Chapel Hill Town Council proclaimed February 10 of this year as ‘Our Three Winners’ Day at Wednesday night’s meeting. Our Three Winners refers to Deah Barakat, Yusor Abu-Salha and Razan Abu-Salha, three victims of a fatal shooting in Chapel Hill in February 2015. Barakat was a UNC dental student, his wife Yusor was soon […]
UNC School of Dentistry Honors Slain Student with 2nd Annual DEAH DAY
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 […]
UNC Football Holds on to Beat No. 25 Pitt, Earn Belichick's First Ranked Win
Billy Edwards and Shamar Easter connected on a 75-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter to give the Tar Heels a lead they wouldn’t relinquish, helping UNC beat No. 25 Pitt on the road Saturday afternoon. It’s Carolina’s first ranked win under head coach Bill Belichick, and the program’s first ranked win on the […]
UNC Football at Pittsburgh (2026): How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Kickoff Time
UNC will head up to the Steel City Saturday to face No. 25 Pitt, which enters the game with a 5-0 record. The Tar Heels have won 8 of 11 meetings with the Panthers since they joined the ACC. If you aren’t traveling north with the team, here’s how you can follow along at home: […]
UNC Men's Basketball Beats USC in Greensboro Preseason Exhibition
UNC outscored USC 51-31 in the second half to overcome a halftime deficit and beat the Trojans 88-70 in a preseason exhibition in Greensboro.
Second-Half Explosion Helps UNC Field Hockey Win at Saint Joseph's
UNC scored six goals in the third quarter to blow the game open at Saint Joseph’s Friday afternoon in Philadelphia, and the Tar Heels won 8-0 for their fourth consecutive victory. It's always sunny when the Heels win ☀️#GoHeels x @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/k44jy2Djq3 — Carolina Field Hockey (@UNCFieldHockey) October 9, 2026 Carolina controlled possession and all […]
'One Targeted Amendment': UNC Issues Statement on Protect College Sports Act
UNC issued a statement on the Protect College Sports Act Friday afternoon. In the statement, the university said it supported the bill’s potential passage and called it “critical to the future and stability of college athletics.” However, the statement goes on to say the school has made a request for “one targeted amendment.” “Supporting the […]
Against Wounded Pitt, UNC Football Seeks More Consistency — And a Win
Stop me if you’ve heard this before: UNC has a chance for a key road win against a team which is making a quarterback change.
›