2026 Chancellors’ Cup Golf Tournament raises $65,810 before expenses in support of staff education and professional development
On Sept. 29, 2026, representatives from all 17 institutions of the University of North Carolina System came together at UNC Finley Golf Club for the 2026 Chancellors’ Cup Golf Tournament, demonstrating the power of collaboration, shared purpose and a collective commitment to supporting the employees who help make North Carolina’s public higher education system exceptional.
The tournament welcomed 92 golfers and generated $65,810 in funds before expenses, supporting the mission of the Janet B. Royster Scholarship Fund. Yet the event’s impact extended far beyond the golf course, highlighting what can be accomplished when institutions, employees, volunteers, sponsors and community partners unite around a common goal.
Investing in the People Behind Our Institutions
The Chancellors’ Cup Golf Tournament represents more than an annual fundraising event. It reflects a commitment to recognizing, supporting and investing in the professional and educational advancement of staff across the UNC System.
The Janet B. Royster Scholarship Fund honors the legacy of Janet B. Royster and the importance of creating opportunities for employees to pursue educational and professional growth.
Through initiatives such as the Chancellors’ Cup, the UNC System community demonstrates that supporting staff development is not simply an institutional priority but a shared investment in the future of public higher education.
The participation of all 17 UNC System institutions reinforced this commitment, bringing together individuals from across North Carolina in support of a mission that extends beyond individual campuses.
The Extraordinary Work Behind the Scenes
While golfers enjoyed a day of camaraderie, friendly competition and connection, the tournament’s success was the result of months of planning, coordination and dedication by an extensive network of individuals working behind the scenes.
More than 100 volunteers and planning team members contributed to bringing the event to life. Their efforts encompassed everything from securing sponsorships and coordinating with institutional representatives to organizing registration, managing logistics, communicating with participants, coordinating volunteers, preparing event materials and ensuring the tournament ran smoothly.
Much of this work occurred long before the first golfer arrived at UNC Finley Golf Club.
Planning an event of this scale required collaboration across institutional boundaries, careful coordination of resources and countless hours of work from staff who balanced tournament responsibilities with their regular professional commitments.
These contributions exemplify the dedication, creativity, leadership and service that UNC System employees demonstrate every day.
Perhaps one of the tournament’s greatest accomplishments was the demonstration that employees from institutions across the state can come together, share their expertise, overcome logistical challenges and deliver an experience that benefits the entire UNC System community.
A Shared Commitment to Staff Development
The success of the 2026 Chancellors’ Cup would not have been possible without the generosity and commitment of its sponsors, institutional partners and supporters.
Special recognition is extended to the State Employees Association of North Carolina (SEANC), the tournament’s naming sponsor, for its support of an initiative centered on the advancement and recognition of public employees.
The Royster family also holds a special place in the event’s purpose. The scholarship fund bearing Janet B. Royster’s name serves as a lasting reminder of the importance of investing in individuals, encouraging professional growth and supporting opportunities for staff throughout the UNC System.
We also extend thanks to sponsors SEANC, Canon, Pepsi, Blackbaud, Texas Roadhouse, Finley Golf Club, Harris Beverages, UNC Athletics and Merritt’s Grill for their generous support of the tournament. Equally important was the participation and support of all 17 UNC System institutions and their employees. Whether through sponsorship engagement, volunteer service, event coordination, participation or institutional support, each contribution helped transform a shared vision into a successful event.
The tournament demonstrated that institutional collaboration is not limited to academic programs, research initiatives or administrative partnerships. It also takes shape through the collective efforts of employees who recognize the value of supporting one another.
Measuring Success Beyond the Dollars Raised
The $65,810 raised before expenses represents a significant fundraising accomplishment, but the tournament’s broader impact cannot be measured solely in dollars.
It can also be measured through the relationships strengthened among institutions, the leadership opportunities created for staff, the spirit of service demonstrated by volunteers and the shared pride that comes from accomplishing something meaningful together.
The overwhelmingly positive response to the event underscores the value of creating opportunities for employees from different institutions to connect around a shared mission.
Looking Ahead: Stronger Together
As the UNC System reflects on the success of the 2026 Chancellors’ Cup Golf Tournament at UNC Finley, the event offers an important reminder: some of the most meaningful accomplishments in higher education happen when people work together beyond the boundaries of their own institutions.
Their collective efforts demonstrate that investing in staff is an investment in the strength and future of the entire UNC System.
The 2026 Chancellors’ Cup was more than a day on the golf course. It was a celebration of service, collaboration and the people whose contributions make North Carolina’s public universities thrive.
About the UNC System Staff Assembly
Established in 2006 under UNC System President Erskine B. Bowles, the University of North Carolina System Staff Assembly is an advisory body that represents non-faculty staff across the 17 institutions in the UNC System.
Three delegates from each institution and the UNC System Office meet at least three times a year to share information and bring staff perspectives to System leadership. The Assembly advises the President and the Board of Governors on issues that affect staff, and it supports staff senates, councils and forums Systemwide.
It honors staff service and leadership through the Erskine B. Bowles Staff Service Award and the Thomas W. Ross Sr. Visionary Leader Award, and it awards the Janet B. Royster Memorial Staff Scholarship to employees pursuing degrees and certifications.
Learn more at myapps.northcarolina.edu/staffassembly.