Bill Smith was named a Hometown Hero for his work to put Crook’s Corner on the map with his culinary skills.
John Williams was honored as a Hometown Hero after being named as Principal of the Year in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School System in 2017 and was recently honored with the Duke Energy Citizenship and Service Award.
Leon Todd was named a Hometown Hero after helping to promote a community appreciation day and honor the various law enforcement agencies in the Chapel Hill area.
Robert Dowling was named a Hometown Hero for his work as the longtime director of the Community Home Trust in Chapel Hill.
Bill Blankenship was named a Hometown Hero for his work as the the incident commander when a trench collapse occurred on UNC’s campus, trapping and injuring two construction workers.
Anissa McLendon was named a Hometown Hero for her work creating a program that provides African-American students with activities, field trips, and skills in the Arts and S.T.E.M. fields.
Colleen Minton was named a Hometown Hero for her work as the founder and driving force behind Terra Vita.
Paul Rockwell was named a Hometown Hero for his amazing dedicated and consistent volunteer work with the Orange County Department on Aging.
Carol Fitch was named a Hometown Hero for her tireless work with at Fitch Lumber & Hardware, which has been in business since 1907.
Police Chief Chris Blue from the Chapel Hill Police Department joined the Hometown Hero Luncheon to give the keynote address.
Bill Ferris, a UNC professor and Grammy Award winner and Pulitzer Prize nominee, was named a Hometown Hero for his work telling the stories and histories of the American South.
Gentry Hodnett was named a Hometown Hero for her work with the Orange County Rape Crisis Center.
Matt Sullivan was named a Hometown Hero for his 32 years of service with the Town of Chapel Hill and the Chapel Hill Fire Department.
Craig Lloyd was named a Hometown Hero after being the heart of the movement behind “Eno the Emu,” which enthralled Orange County for a few months.
Carrboro Mayor Lydia Lavelle and Alicia Stemper joined 97.9 The Hill for this year’s Hometown Hero Luncheon.
Aaron Westrick was named a Hometown Hero for his work with a group of community members to save the Lumina Theater in Southern Village.
Danita Mason-Hogans was named a Hometown Hero for carrying forward the proud legacy of the “Chapel Hill Nine” in our community.
Chapel Hill Mayor Pro Tem Michael Parker joined 97.9 The Hill for this year’s Hometown Hero Luncheon.
Elinor Landess was named a Hometown Hero for her work as the director of the Campus and Community Coalition, where she works to reduce the negative impacts of high-risk drinking in Chapel Hill, Orange County and the University of North Carolina.
Susan Springer was named a Hometown Hero for her work creating Mitzvah Day, which is coordinated by the Jewish Federation of Durham and Chapel Hill.
Erika Wilson was named a Hometown Hero for her work researching laws and policies that may affect educational equality for disadvantaged students.
Gerald Ramoin and Poonam Nandani from Hendrick Southpoint Automall joined 97.9 The Hill for this year’s Hometown Heroes Luncheon, as the program’s presenting sponsors.
Sherose Badruddin was named a Hometown Hero for her work as the driving force behind the “Buy Nothing Project” in Chapel Hill and Carrboro.
Melinda Abrams was named a Hometown Hero for her work founding the bi-annual Arts on Market at Southern Village in Chapel Hill.
97.9 The Hill staff represent!
