• We are all niners •
Abby Stapleton
Meet Abby Stapleton, goalie for the Charlotte 49ers women’s soccer team and junior communications major from Charlotte. Abby’s a hometown girl who, like many of her peers, decided to stay close to home to pursue her degree. For Abby, UNC Charlotte affords the perfect environment to excel in the classroom and on the pitch.
Get to know Abby.
• We Are All Niners •
Abby Stapleton
Meet Abby Stapleton, goalie for the Charlotte 49ers women’s soccer team and junior communications major from Charlotte. Abby’s a hometown girl who, like many of her peers, decided to stay close to home to pursue her degree. For Abby, UNC Charlotte affords the perfect environment to excel in the classroom and on the pitch.
Get to know Abby.
What does it mean to you to be part of Niner Nation?
To me, being part of the Niner Nation means living in a strong community that is innovative, inspiring, determined and compassionate. It means wearing green proudly to represent a school I am honored to be a part of. It represents connection with new people and learning about different cultures. Most importantly, being part of Niner Nation means being a part of family.
What has been the University’s impact on your life and experience as a Niner?
Being a Niner has greatly impacted me and helped shape the course of my life. With a friendly and open community, I am able to reach out to teachers, advisors and colleagues whenever I have questions about anything. It has taught me to be eager, curious and have a drive for success. The thought of entering the workforce after college and “adulting” is always intimidating, but I am fully confident and comfortable moving forward with the knowledge and experiences I have had so far at Charlotte.
You’re one of the individuals in the ‘We Are All Niners’ campaign. What does it mean to represent the University in this campaign?
As an athlete for UNC Charlotte, I am representing the school every day, but with a campaign like this, it dives into the deeper mission of UNC Charlotte and the character behind each and every student. I am proud and extremely honored to be representing my school this way. It portrays the togetherness of the community and evokes a sense of camaraderie among the students, staff and entire Niner Nation.
This is a campaign to garner exposure and pride for UNC Charlotte across the Charlotte region. What do you want the city of Charlotte to know about UNC Charlotte? What should the city know about Niner pride?
One thing I think the city of Charlotte should know about UNC Charlotte is that it is growing—in size and in pride. Being a student since 2017, I have seen the campus expand and develop; but also, Niner pride is becoming stronger and louder. Experiences—especially the events of April 30—have brought the students closer, success of sports teams have strengthened a solid fan base and the growth of the city of Charlotte has brought new and interesting activities and events to explore. UNC Charlotte is definitely on the rise and with each year, month and day, our pride grows stronger.
What role does the women’s soccer team play in building the spirit of unity on campus and in the community?
Being on the women’s soccer team has definitely strengthened my ties to the school and community. We are all very close as a team. The bond we share is important and translates to our performance on the field and influence within Niner Nation. As student athletes, one of our main goals is to connect with other students and be active in the community. As a team, along with focusing on growing and improving our game, we make sure to be active in campus involvement and community service. This has allowed us to connect with other student athletes, students, teachers and the surrounding community, which I feel has really strengthened the spirit of unity within Niner Nation.
To read more about UNC Charlotte has to offer, visit uncc.edu.
