CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WNCN) — One of soccer’s all-time greats will return to her alma mater next year to speak at the graduation ceremony for the Class of 2025.
Mia Hamm has been announced as the commencement speaker for the University of North Carolina’s spring ceremony, which will take place on May 10 at 7 p.m. in Keenan Stadium.
“I want the Class of 2025 to understand that Carolina has equipped them to create their own legacy in the world,” Hamm stated. “It’s a place where I was continually challenged, supported, and shaped into both the player and the person I am today.”
Hamm played for Carolina from 1989 to 1993 under the renowned coach Anson Dorrance. During her time with the Tar Heels, she set the NCAA women’s soccer scoring record with 278 points and helped lead the team to NCAA championships in 1989, 1990, 1992, and 1993. She graduated in 1994 with a degree in political science.
Regarded as the most well-known women’s soccer player globally, Hamm is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and a two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champion. She played on both U.S. teams that won the first Women’s World Cup in 1991 and the first Olympic women’s soccer tournament in 1996.
Beyond soccer, Hamm founded the Mia Hamm Foundation in 1999 to raise awareness about bone marrow and cord blood transplants and to create more opportunities for young women in sports.
“We are thrilled that Mia Hamm — arguably the most renowned female athlete worldwide — will deliver the keynote address and share her unique insights with the Class of 2025 and their guests,” said UNC Chancellor Lee Roberts. “Her remarkable soccer career is complemented by her commitment to advancing women’s sports, supporting bone marrow research, and assisting families of transplant patients. She embodies the excellence of Carolina, and we eagerly anticipate the wisdom she will share with our graduates.”
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