Carolina Athletics will recognize two former student-athletes at halftime of the men’s basketball team’s game against Florida State in Chapel Hill Saturday afternoon. Women’s soccer alumna Synthia Scott Kearney and track and field alumnus Reggie McAfee will be honored as the latest class of “Tar Heel Trailblazers.”

Kearney was the first Black player in the history of the UNC women’s soccer program, and was part of national championship-winning teams in 1981 and 1982. In 1982, Kearney scored the game-winning goal in the national semifinals against Missouri-St. Louis. But her post-playing career may be even more accomplished: Kearney joined the Secret Service before eventually becoming a firefighter. She currently serves as a battalion chief in Gastonia, and was the first woman in the city’s history to hold that role. In addition, Kearney is the older sister of the late Stuart Scott.

In his four years at Carolina, McAfee won four ACC championships and was named an All-American four times. He was the first Black runner to officially run a sub-four minute mile, clocking in at 3:59.8 in 1973. He would beat that time at the ACC Championship later that season, running a 3:59.3. That time is the second-fastest outdoor mile in school history. Since graduation, McAfee has founded Cross Country for Youth in Charlotte.

After being honored at the basketball game, Kearney and McAfee will speak with current Carolina student-athletes and other department guests.

The Tar Heel Trailblazers award “recognizes individuals who paved the way for success in all aspects of the student-athlete experience, shining a spotlight on pioneers who have made memorable and lasting contributions at UNC and beyond,” according to Carolina Athletics. It is presented as part of Black History Month.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our biweekly newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
'A Significant Evolution': UNC Athletic Director Details New Revenue Sharing, Scholarship Plans
UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham shared an open letter to Tar Heel fans and students Monday morning, addressing this month’s House v. NCAA settlement and its effects on the collegiate landscape. The settlement, which was approved by U.S. Judge Claudia Wilken on June 6, requires schools to share up to $20.5 million in revenue with […]
Chansky's Notebook: One and Dones
Tony Bradley is one of several Tar Heels who left college after their freshman year, when staying might have benefited both them and UNC.
Report: Russian Prospect Elizaveta Astakhova Commits to UNC Women's Basketball
According to a report from On3’s Talia Goodman, Elizaveta Astakhova, a six-foot-one wing who spent the 2024-25 basketball season playing professionally in Russia, committed to head coach Courtney Banghart and UNC Tuesday afternoon. NEWS: Russian 2025 prospect Elizaveta Astakhova has committed to North Carolina, her agents Tequan Dean and Alex Karavanen told @On3sports. The 6-1 […]
3 UNC Athletes Finish as National Runners-Up at NCAA Track & Field Championships
Three different Tar Heels – shot putter Tommy Kitchell and runners Makayla Paige and Ethan Strand – finished as the national runners-up in their respective events at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Oregon last week. Kitchell, competing in his last collegiate event, achieved a new personal best and a school record with […]
UNC's Chloe Humphrey Wins Honda Sport Award for Lacrosse
UNC star freshman Chloe Humphrey has been named the 2025 winner of the Honda Sport Award for lacrosse. The Honda Sport Award honors the national players of the year in all collegiate women’s sports. Honda Humphrey 🤌 Chloe Humphrey is this year’s winner of the Honda Sport Award for Lacrosse! pic.twitter.com/VctEuZGEEB — UNC Women's Lacrosse […]
College Baseball Foundation Names UNC's Jake Knapp National Pitcher of the Year
UNC right-hander Jake Knapp has been named the National Pitcher of the Year by the College Baseball Foundation. 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐛𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐧𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 👏 Jake Knapp is the 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿. pic.twitter.com/uFaFnNZAWy — Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) June 13, 2025 Knapp missed the entirety of the 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery during the […]
Chansky's Notebook: Run it Back
UNC will be playing in Rupp Arena this December. And for a college basketball purist, that’s about as good as it gets.
UNC Men's Basketball to Face Kentucky, Women to Face Texas in ACC-SEC Challenge
The UNC men’s basketball team will visit Kentucky the night of Tuesday, December 2 and the UNC women’s team will visit Texas the night of Thursday, December 4 as part of the 2025 ACC-SEC Challenge, ESPN announced Thursday. ESPN announces matchups & dates for the 3rd annual @theACC/@SEC Men's & Women's Basketball Challenges 🏀 Dec. […]
Report: UNC Women's Basketball to Compete in 4-Team Las Vegas Event
Head coach Courtney Banghart and the Tar Heels are reportedly heading out west early in the 2025-26 season. According to women’s college basketball insider Mitchell Northam of SB Nation, UNC will compete in a four-team, two-day event in Las Vegas this coming November. Joining Carolina in the event will be South Florida, Fairfield and UCLA. […]
Chansky's Notebook: Finally!
Tuesday’s UNC football media availability, featuring four players, broke a bizarre dry spell for the program.
›