Track & Field student-athlete Jill Shippee has been named the second-ever recipient of the FORevHER Tar Heels scholarship, as announced by The Rams Club. The honor coincides with Carolina’s celebration of the 50th year of women’s athletics. Currently in her fifth year at Carolina, Shippee has one final season of athletic eligibility remaining as she earns her Master’s Degree in Accounting at Kenan-Flagler Business School.

“I know there are a lot of student-athletes who wouldn't be in the position we are now without a scholarship,” said Shippee. “It’s a true honor to be named a FORevHER Tar Heels Scholar. It has been amazing to be a part of the athletic legacy of women student-athletes at Carolina and helping establish the culture for future student-athletes. I’m excited to see that through during my last year.”

Shippee’s on the field accomplishments – second team All-America, ACC Champion, two-time All-ACC, and multiple record holder at both Carolina and in the ACC – are just as strong as her off-the-field pursuits. Shippee has earned All-ACC Academic Honor Roll recognition and has represented Track & Field on the UNC Student-Athlete Advisory Council.

Chris Miltenberg – the Director of Track & Field at Carolina – took early notice of Shippee’s impact at Carolina. “It was very clear from the first day we got here, and even just the first phone call I had with Jill before I was even on the ground here, that she was going to be one of the key leaders that embraced the challenge for the team of how we're going to get better and was eager to be challenged in every way,” said Miltenberg. “In everything she does, she just loves to compete and get better every time. Her energy impacts our entire team, both women and men.”

The FORevHER Tar Heels initiative has made a tremendous personal impact on Shippee, who has been involved with the program since its inception in 2019.

“I’ve been involved with the mentorship program, as well as a lot of the events,” she shared. “I recently had the opportunity to lead a Q&A with Sallie Krawcheck for a group of female student-athletes with an interest in business. Not only does FORevHER Tar Heels bring in a lot of speakers, but it also hosts a number of networking events to help female student-athletes network in the sectors they’re interested in.”

“I also really enjoy spending time with donors and giving back,” Shippee continued. “I enjoy showing them what their money is going into and hope we’re making them proud.”

An undergraduate double major in Exercise & Sport Science (Sports Administration) and Sociology, Shippee is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Accounting – an opportunity she notes that she might not otherwise have had the opportunity to explore had it not been for the FORevHER Tar Heels scholarship.

“Without the financial backing, I probably would haven’t been able to pursue a master’s degree,” she said. “It was something I always wanted, but even as recently as a few years ago I wasn’t sure how it would be able to happen. Luckily, despite COVID, UNC saw our scholarships through and the FORevHER Tar Heels scholarship has taken a massive weight off my shoulders to make this master’s degree possible.”

While still in Chapel Hill for the short term, Shippee has Paris on the brain, and hopes to remain in Chapel Hill to train for the next several years in preparation for the next U.S. Olympic Trials. After competing in the 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore., Shippee notes that the “Olympic dream is still alive,” and she would “love to rep the USA again.”

In the meantime, she’ll continue her studies – and she has the donors to the FORevHER Tar Heels initiative to thank for it.

“It really is life changing,” Shippee said. “I know a lot of people that dream of earning scholarships to be afforded the opportunity to get an undergraduate degree and a master’s degree. By donating to FORevHER Tar Heels and the scholarship fund, you’re providing those opportunities, and it means more than you will ever know.”

About FORevHER Tar Heels

FORevHER Tar Heels is an initiative led by The Rams Club and Carolina Athletics to celebrate and champion women student-athletes of the past, present and future.

FORevHER Tar Heels provides enhanced resources that give Carolina’s women student-athletes the opportunity to further excel academically and perform at the highest level in competition. It allows us to be intentional in our efforts to help them live a life of excellence, connectedness and empowerment after graduation.

With a bold goal of $100 million, we are relying on our Carolina community to pledge their support for our women, and we invite you to invest in Carolina’s women student-athletes of today and tomorrow through FORevHER Tar Heels.

Learn more at FORevHERTarHeels.com.