School Uses 'March Madness' to Promote College Awareness

March Madness means more than just basketball as far as students at are concerned.

Before last week’s early rounds in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament,  paper basketballs were hung from the ceiling with the names of all 68 qualifiers. Teachers showed support for their favorite college by hanging paper pennants outside their rooms. And morning announcements included messages about the importance of post secondary education.

“Yes, the NCAA tournament is all about basketball,” said Principal Sarah DeDonato. “But there is such a great opportunity to talk about the college experience.”

“We’re always looking for ways to increase college awareness among our students,” said Martinez guidance counselor Anita Hilton, who is in charge of the project. “This is an ideal way to highlight these 68 universities, giving students a more broad perspective into the nearly 4,000 colleges and universities across the country they have to choose from.”

This week a large bracket went up just outside the Martinez lunchroom, complete with Sweet 16 qualifiers, where each school is located and enrollment numbers. After the next round, Elite 8 qualifiers will include references to entry requirements and top majors for each school.

Additional information will be posted about schools that make it to the Final 4 and then the Final 2…and ultimately the NCAA champion.

Through April 3, daily announcements include information on such things as future career options, the number of athletes who actually get college degrees, and the average income for a college graduate compared to someone without any post secondary education.

“We set our college and career readiness standards because we know that in today’s job force, you need post secondary schooling, whether that’s vocational training or a 4-year college,” DeDonato said, adding that starting conversations about post secondary education now will give her students “a more solid idea of what they want to do and where they want to go.”

“We hope this enlightens them and they have fun in the process as well,” Hilton added.