Join The Madness! Discover Colleges, Earn Micro-scholarships, and Get In The Spirit
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Cecilia Xia
- Mar 20, 2019
- 8 min read
[Feeling competitive? Jump straight to the March Madness College Discovery Challenge instructions.]
There is something magical about March. And we’re not talking about the first few flirtations of Spring (however, that is pretty great). The magic we’re referring to is in arguably the most popular sporting event in the country, March Madness. Millions of Americans tune in and are not just passive viewers, they are actively participating themselves, fully engaged.
So what’s so fun about March Madness?
It’s the suspense of game-winning shots and the heartbreak wrought from single-game elimination. It’s love of the triumphant underdogs, those aching and thrilling upsets, and the crazy comebacks. We cry when the college seniors cry at the end of their last game. We cheer when the crowds scream as these college athletes have their “shining moments.”
Who is March Madness for?
March Madness is for everyone. It’s a rare mechanism that not only enables students and universities to take ultimate pride in their schools, but for all of us to find a team and player to stand behind. And then find another one after that team inevitably gets eliminated. It’s a unifying competition, not a divisive battle.
How can I get in on the fun?
At RaiseMe, we are feeling the fever of the Madness. As we fill out our brackets, we are reminded of how March Madness is also a great opportunity to learn more about the phenomenal universities competing, from the Cinderella schools to the powerhouses. To add to the magic, we are launching own student tournament of sorts: The RaiseMe Madness College Discovery Challenge. This is your chance to pull back the curtain on the schools taking part in the tourney, learn more about them beyond their basketball programs, and even earn micro-scholarships from eligible schools. Below, you can enter our tournament and begin to learn while you earn.
The RaiseMe Madness College Discovery Challenge Rules
- Check out our RaiseMe Madness College Discovery Bracket, where you can learn more about the colleges with basketball teams playing in this year’s tournament.
- Discover colleges in the tournament that you might be interested in by browsing their college profile on RaiseMe! (If you don’t have a RaiseMe account, you can sign up to discover colleges and start earning micro-scholarships from those schools for your achievements.
- Enter to win!
| If you just FOLLOW 2 SCHOOLS | … then you also INVITE 2 FRIENDS WHO JOIN | … and then you ADD 5 PORTFOLIO ACHIEVEMENTS |
|---|---|---|
| You earn 1 entry | You earn 5 total entries | You earn 10 total entries |
Then, wait to see if you’re selected as one of our “Sweet 16”, “Elite 8”, “Final 4”, or as one of our two “RaiseMe Madness” champions! We’ll be selecting winners at the beginning of each round in the March Madness Tournament:
Sweet 16 (enter before March 24, and winners will be drawn on March 25): 16 lucky students will get a RaiseMe sticker pack
Elite 8 (enter before March 30, and winners will be drawn on March 31): 8 students will get RaiseMe sticker pack + school supplies and socks
Final 4 (enter before April 4, and winners will be drawn on April 5): 4 lucky students will get a RaiseMe special edition sweatshirt OR $25 gift card to purchase college apparel
RaiseMe Madness Champions (enter before April 7, and winners will be drawn on April 8): 2 students will get $50 gift card for college apparel, a RaiseMe special edition sweatshirt, and a RaiseMe sticker pack
Enter the challenge early for more chances to win! (See official rules here).
Ready to learn more about colleges in this year’s March Madness Tournament, and more? Browse through our bracket below, or scroll down to learn more about and follow the colleges and universities offering micro-scholarships on RaiseMe.
Arizona State University
March Madness Seed: 11
Fun Fact: Ranked #1 in the U.S. for innovation by U.S. News & World Report.
Follow Arizona State University to earn micro-scholarships and enter to win our RaiseMe Madness College Discovery Challenge: /edu/arizona-state-university-tempe
Murray State University
March Madness Seed: 12
Fun Fact: Located in front of Pogue Library on the Quad is a tree with many pairs of shoes nailed to the trunk. The tradition is that if a couple gets married after meeting at Murray State, they return to the Quad and each one nails a shoe to the “Shoe Tree.”
Follow Murray State University to earn micro-scholarships and enter to win our RaiseMe Madness College Discovery Challenge: /edu/murray-state
University of Vermont
March Madness Seed: 13
Fun Fact: Founded in 1791, University of Vermont prepares students to be accountable leaders who will bring to their work dedication to the global community, a grasp of complexity, effective problem-solving and communication skills, and an enduring commitment to learning and ethical conduct.
Follow University of Vermont to earn micro-scholarships and enter to win our RaiseMe Madness College Discovery Challenge: /edu/university-of-vermon
Texas Tech University
March Madness Seed: 3
Fun Fact: Public research university that offers undergraduate studies, a law school, and medical school in one location.
Follow Texas Tech University to earn micro-scholarships and enter to win our RaiseMe Madness College Discovery Challenge: /edu/texas-tech-university
University of Florida
March Madness Seed: 10
Fun Fact: Founded in 1853, UF is Florida’s preeminent flagship institution comprising 16 colleges and more than 150 research centers.
Follow University of Florida to earn micro-scholarships* and enter to win our RaiseMe Madness College Discovery Challenge: /edu/university-of-florida
*Note: The University of Florida does not currently offer micro-scholarships for all students. Sign into your RaiseMe account to check your eligibility.
University of Montana
March Madness Seed: 15
Fun Fact: The University of Montana is a public research university in Missoula, Montana. Founded in 1893, the university is the flagship of the four-campus University of Montana System and its largest institution.
Follow University of Montana to earn micro-scholarships and enter to win our RaiseMe Madness College Discovery Challenge: /edu/university-of-montana
Gardner-Webb University
March Madness Seed: 16
Fun Fact: Every fall during the first week of classes, freshman intro-classes engage in a lip-sync battle. This helps foster a sense of community among the new students and gives the entire student body something entertaining to start their year off with. Cash prizes are awarded to the top three classes further intensifying the competition.
Follow Gardner-Webb University to earn micro-scholarships and enter to win our RaiseMe Madness College Discovery Challenge: /edu/gardner-webb-university
Gardner-Webb University
March Madness Seed: 9
Fun Fact: Attracting top students from across the nation and more than 140 countries around the world, OU provides a major university experience in a private college atmosphere. In 2015 OU became the first public university in U.S. history to be ranked #1 in freshman National Merit Scholars enrolled, with 313 scholars. The current student body is both the largest and most highly ranked academically in the history of public institutions in Oklahoma.
Follow University of Oklahoma to earn micro-scholarships and enter to win our RaiseMe Madness College Discovery Challenge: /edu/university-of-oklahoma
Kansas State University
March Madness Seed: 4
Fun Fact: The mission of Kansas State University is to foster excellent teaching, research, and service that develop a highly skilled and educated citizenry necessary to advancing the well-being of Kansas, the nation, and the international community.
Follow Kansas State University to earn micro-scholarships and enter to win our RaiseMe Madness College Discovery Challenge: /edu/kansas-state-university
University of Kansas
March Madness Seed: 4
Fun Fact: Considered one of the most beautiful in the nation, KU’s central campus occupies 1,000 acres on and around historic Mount Oread in Lawrence, Kansas.
Follow University of Kansas to earn micro-scholarships* and enter to win our RaiseMe Madness College Discovery Challenge: /edu/university-of-kansas
*Note: The University of Kansas does not currently offer micro-scholarships for all students. Sign into your RaiseMe account to check your eligibility.
University of Iowa
March Madness Seed: 10
Fun Fact: Home to some of the nation’s top scholars and researchers, Iowa offers more than 200 areas of study on a vibrant and diverse campus.
Follow University of Iowa to earn micro-scholarships* and enter to win our RaiseMe Madness College Discovery Challenge: /edu/university-of-iowa
*Note: The University of Iowa does not currently offer micro-scholarships for all students. Sign into your RaiseMe account to check your eligibility.
University of Tennessee
March Madness Seed: 2
Fun Fact: The University of Tennessee’s mascot are The Volunteers (also known as “The Vols”) because the nickname of the State of Tennessee is The Volunteer State, due to the role that Tennessee residents played during the War of 1812 to volunteer in the army.
Follow University of Tennessee to earn micro-scholarships* and enter to win our RaiseMe Madness College Discovery Challenge: /edu/the-university-of-tennessee-knoxville
*Note: The University of Kansas does not currently offer micro-scholarships for all students. Sign into your RaiseMe account to check your eligibility.
University of Kentucky
March Madness Seed: 2
Fun Fact: Founded in 1865 as a land-grant institution adjacent to downtown Lexington, UK is nestled in the scenic heart of the unique Bluegrass region of Kentucky. Blending creative teaching and instruction methods with innovative research, medical care and community service, it is no wonder that UK is The University of Kentucky.
Follow University of Kentucky to earn micro-scholarships and enter to win our RaiseMe Madness College Discovery Challenge: /edu/university-of-kentucky
Abilene Christian University
March Madness Seed: 15
Fun Fact: In February 2008, Abilene Christian University became the first university to provide an Apple iPhone or iPod touch to all of its incoming freshmen, in efforts to embrace the use of technology for educational enrichment.
Follow Abilene Christian University to earn micro-scholarships and enter to win our RaiseMe Madness College Discovery Challenge: /edu/abilene-christian-university
University of Minnesota
March Madness Seed: 10
Fun Fact: The university system has five primary campuses, in the Twin Cities, Duluth, Crookston, Morris, and Rochester.
Follow University of Minnesota to earn micro-scholarships and enter to win our RaiseMe Madness College Discovery Challenge: /edu/university-of-minnesota-duluth
*Note: The University of Minnesota currently only offers micro-scholarships for their Duluth campus.
Syracuse University
March Madness Seed: 8
Fun Fact: Syracuse University is a place where students from diverse backgrounds stretch their limits and learn from scholars of distinction, industry leaders, and community members.
Follow Syracuse University to earn micro-scholarships and enter to win our RaiseMe Madness College Discovery Challenge: /edu/syracuse-university
Ohio State University
March Madness Seed: 11
Fun Fact: The Ohio State University is the only school in the nation that has the word “The” as an offical part of the school name.
Follow Ohio State University to earn micro-scholarships and enter to win our RaiseMe Madness College Discovery Challenge: /edu/ohio-state-university-main-campus
*Note: The Ohio State University does not currently offer micro-scholarships for all students. Sign into your RaiseMe account to check your eligibility.
Northeastern University
March Madness Seed: 13
Fun Fact: Northeastern is a global, experiential, research university built on a tradition of engagement with the world, creating a distinctive approach to education and research.
Follow Northeastern University to earn micro-scholarships and enter to win our RaiseMe Madness College Discovery Challenge: /edu/northeastern-university
Virginia Tech
March Madness Seed: 4
Fun Fact: Virginia Tech’s mascot, the “HokieBird” or Hokie, has evolved from a turkey. Virginia Tech teams were once called the “gobblers”!
Follow Virginia Tech to earn micro-scholarships* and enter to win our RaiseMe Madness College Discovery Challenge: /edu/virginia-polytechnic-institute-and-state-university
*Note: Virginia Tech does not currently offer micro-scholarships for all students. Sign into your RaiseMe account to check your eligibility.
Cecilia Xia
Cecilia is the Senior Manager for Content, Community, and Brand at RaiseMe. She leads all of RaiseMe’s communications efforts and got her career start working in higher education marketing. She loves to connect with different members of RaiseMe’s community of students, educators, and parents! In her spare time, Cecilia enjoys hiking, taking road trips, and spending time by the water.
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