Donor Spotlight: Scott Rehm

 By: Ashley White

Scott Rehm, a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 1979 to 1986, earned both his bachelor’s degree and DDS from the university. While Rehm devoted much of his time to his studies and exploring Franklin Street, there was one other thing that filled his time: Rehm was a dedicated member of the UNC Ice Hockey team during his entire Carolina career.

Hailing from Buffalo, New York, Rehm grew up on the ice, and knew he wasn’t ready to hang up his skates as he transitioned to college life. When making the decision to attend UNC, Rehm knew that he would be able to continue to play hockey, as his brother, Jeff Rehm, was the captain of Duke’s team, and had faced the Heels on the ice.

During Rehm’s time on the team, they played most weekends, facing classic opponents like NC State and Duke as well as traveling to play the University of Tennessee and the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Games were held at the Daniel Boone Arena in Hillsborough, North Carolina, just a short distance from the team’s current home at the Orange County Sportsplex.

Rehm greatly enjoyed his time with the team.

“Just being around the players, it was fun.” Rehm said. “It was good to get away from being on campus and just studying.”

Now as a Tar Heel Hockey alum, Rehm became the first to donate to the Tar Heel Hockey Booster Club’s $25 million fundraising campaign for a new arena in Carraway Village.

Rehm has been an oral and maxillofacial surgeon in Greensboro NC since 1991, including his time as the surgeon for the Carolina Hurricanes during their stint in Greensboro before their permanent home in Raleigh was completed. In the past year, Rehm and his partners decided to sell their practice, prompting his decision to donate to the Tar Heel Hockey Booster Club.

“I got some money for that so I can turn it over to a cause I want, which is the hockey team,” Rehm said.

Rehm dedicated his donation to his parents Dr. Ronald and Marcia Rehm, who he says “raised a good family.”

Growing up in Buffalo, N.Y., early-morning hockey practices often meant his father would shovel the driveway before driving them to the rink. He even built a backyard rink for extra practice. His mother, however, was the family’s true athlete, competing on the inaugural women’s swimming and diving team at Purdue University.

“She is the one that pushed us, she was a big athlete and she pushed us,” Rehm said.

Dr. Ronald Rehm was encouraging on the ice, but with a Ph.D from MIT in applied mathematics, his children often went to him for help in the classroom.

“You could ask him any question, and he’d know em.” Rehm said.

Inspired by his father’s legacy,  Rehm decided to dedicate a fund to the Department of Chemistry at UNC in his fathers name. Additionally, Rehm has a scholarship in his name for a UNC dental student from Rockingham and Guilford Counties, as that is where many of his patients have come from since he has been practicing. However, after his father’s passing this past year, he knew he wanted the donation to be in both of his parent’s names.

“Hopefully my mother gets a chance to see it while she’s still alive,” Rehm said. “I think it’s a fitting thing.”

Hockey culture in North Carolina has greatly evolved since Rehm’s time at UNC. There was no NHL team and not many people knew or played the sport. But since then, the Carolina Hurricanes have taken root and with their Stanley Cup win in 2006, they are still the only major league team in the state to have won its league’s championship. The sport is continuing to grow and Tar Heel Hockey along with it as the organization works to raise money for its new rink.

Rehm encourages everyone, but specifically alumni to donate.

“Now is the time to give back,” he said. “If you enjoyed playing for the Tar Heels, show your support. It’s as simple as that.”

If you are interested in donating to the Tar Heel Hockey Booster Club’s Fundraising Campaign for a new arena, please reach out to Colin Wahl at cwahl@unchockey.com.