March Madness is finally here — this is a time of year I look forward to! I love making the brackets and guessing which teams will be the underdogs who come out and surprise America.
Growing up, my family used to always make brackets and compete against each other for fun. I used to not know anything about college basketball or the teams, so I made my picks based on the color of each team’s uniform. Now I am more into basketball and do research before selecting my teams.
When I was a freshman in college, my friend Andrew and I made our whole dorm floor fill out brackets, then we taped them up on the wall and kept track of each bracket until the end so we could find a winner. Ever since, we always get a group of friends to fill out a bracket for a little friendly competition. Instead of doing the printable brackets, we now do it electronically on an app so everyone can participate even if we don’t live close to each other. All my friends are pretty competitive, so I always expect some trash talking.
Living and growing up outside of Philadelphia, I was always a big fan of Villanova basketball. Coach Jay Wright is a local from my hometown, as well as former player and NCAA Champion Ryan Arcidiacono. I used to always pick Villanova to be the winners no matter what their season looked like.
Even though I still want them to win the whole thing, now I pick my bracket based off the stats, rankings and play in games.
I am looking forward to seeing the upsets and how this year’s March Madness shapes up. Good luck on your brackets!
— Mary Melnick, social media and editorial coordinator
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FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
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Nov 5, 2024Don’t Miss Idaho’s Upcoming Fall, Winter Activities and Events
Boise, Idaho, welcomed a new education center, Philip E. Batt Education Building, this October. Named in honor of former Idaho Governor Phil Batt for his contribution to human rights in the state, the building houses offices for Wassmuth Center for Human Rights, along with a classroom, meeting space, catering kitchen, research library, exhibitions room, gift shop and a human rights-themed art gallery showcasing works from Idaho artists. Here, visitors can explore immersive experiences, including a virtual reality tour of Anne Frank House in Amsterdam and an A.I.-powered interactive display featuring Holocaust survivors’ stories.
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Nov 5, 2024Set Off on a Tour of Extraordinary Mechanical Clocks Around the World
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Nov 5, 2024Arlo Washington DC to Debut Nov. 18
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Nov 5, 2024AlUla Designated as Gulf Cooperation Council’s First-Ever Dark Sky Park
AlUla, Saudi Arabia, is officially the first destination in Gulf Cooperation Council’s to be designated a Dark Sky Park by DarkSky International. This destination continues to commit to minimizing light pollution, preserving and protecting the nighttime environment, and ensuring its skies remain crystal clear for stargazers.
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Nov 1, 2024SWISS First Lounge Named World’s Best Airline Lounge for Dining
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Explore Egypt on the Most Extraordinary Tour Ever
Picture this: You’re standing in front of the Great Pyramid, the last of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, in complete silence, with no crowds in sight. As you step inside, your guide leads you to hidden chambers inaccessible to other tourists. Here, you’re granted a rare chance to delve into the deepest mysteries of ancient Egypt.
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Nov 1, 2024A Helping Hand
As we edge our way toward winter, I want to remind you how lucky we have been and how we can help those who have not been as fortunate. Please continue to donate to the American Red Cross, which stands ready in any disaster to provide items people need such as water, clothing, food and other supplies.
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