The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, in consultation with the Smith family and with their full support, has created the Dean E. Smith Opening Doors Fund to honor the legacy of UNC’s legendary men’s basketball coach by helping students get the best education possible regardless of their financial resources.
Coach Smith championed the cause of access to higher education, and this fund benefits undergraduate and graduate students who need significant financial assistance to further their studies. This need-based aid will make college a reality for outstanding undergraduates from lower-income families, and will enable professionals in education and social work — two fields close to Coach Smith’s heart — to pursue advanced degrees. Recipients, known as the Dean E. Smith Scholars, will exemplify Coach Smith’s qualities of leadership, service and excellence; the fund will embody his ideals of access and opportunity for all, including those who cannot otherwise afford to further their educations.
Make an online gift to support The Dean E. Smith Opening Doors Fund at http://giving.unc.edu/opening-doors.