Dec. 8, 2001

Chapel Hill, NC - When someone hears the name "Jordan" they instantly think of #23, the one who was partly responsible for one of Carolina's four NCAA basketball championships and the man that has hit a record 25 game-winning buzzer beaters in his career. But what about the other Jordan, #16 Jordan Walker, UNC's star midfielder? This Jordan is responsible for 4 game winning goals, including one against Notre Dame to advance the women's soccer team to the 2000 championship game and the team's 17th NCAA Championship and, most recently, one against Rutgers to advance the #1 ranked Tar heels into the fourth round of the 2001 Women's Soccer Cup.

"In all honesty, I have really just been very lucky to score a few game winning goals as of late," she says. "When a game is close, I definitely try to be as mentally focused as possible, and that, in combination with some wonderful assists from my teammates, has resulted in a few exciting goals." Whether, just luck, pure talent, or a combination of the two, when the game is on the line, Walker always delivers.

Walker, a junior from Richardson Texas, chose the University of North Carolina, not just for its world-renowned soccer program, but also for its academic excellence. Coming out of Ursuline Academy, Walker received a variety of awards, including Parade High School All-American, Texas High School Player of the Year, NSCAA All-America selection, and numerous others. But out of all of her awards, none were probably more important than being crowned class Valedictorian. Therefore, Walker not only excels on the soccer field, but also in the classroom.

The native Texan is just as busy off the field as she is on the field. Outside of soccer, Jordan devotes here time to service programs. She is currently in charge of ACC Outreach, which is an athletic service organization developed to involve many of Carolina's athletics in service both within the Carolina community as well as outside of the community. In conjunction with ACC Outreach, Walker is also the chair of the UNC Dance Marathon Athletic Fundraising Committee, the largest run student philanthropy on campus. "I thoroughly enjoy working with Dance Marathon because I think it is one of the most worthwhile causes this community has to offer," Walker says. "The money raised actually goes directly to the families and children in the hospital, and I cannot think of a more meaningful gift than that."

Walker will someday graduate from the University of North Carolina with her most prestigious award ever, her degree. A sophomore eligibility wise, but a junior academically, Walker has maintained a very impressive GPA, while named to the Dean's List and ACC Academic Honor Roll all three years of her tenure. Recently, she changed her major from Applied Sciences to Chemistry, and in the future, she plans to do some research in the Chemistry field and she is hoping to gain some experience in the financial sector of the business world.

For Walker, the idea of giving back to the community is a big motivating factor. " I try to surround myself with intelligent, motivated people who have seized their collegiate opportunity to make a difference in their community," she says "because it is amazing how much you can accomplish even as a college student if you are willing to take risks and a little time."

While Walker is a star on the field, she also shines off the field. From athletics to academics to volunteerism, Walker continues to excel. Just like #23, #16 has been an inspiration to us all.