The couple celebrated their first Valentine's Day as fiancés just two weeks later, although it wasn't the most typical date.  "This is so lame,” Dave said, "but I was [Community's] sophomore coach when we were dating, and on our first Valentine's Day we had a game in Peoria." After the game,...

A buzzer echoes throughout the stadium, only 30 seconds of the match remain — the countdown ticking away on the Jumbotrons suspended above the audience. The six robots in the arena make their final, frenzied plays -- racing around the game floor, launching rubber balls into an eight-feet high...

“Hey, do you need help with the copy machine?” Mr. Dave Witzig and Ms. Pam Osborn met eyes across the room, his first words to the new teacher ringing in the air.   “Do I look like I need help?” she thought. This is how the story of the Witzig’s whirlwind romance begins — the young...

After the Game Plan for the season is released the first weekend of January, teams across the country spend their twelve week build season in engineering, testing, programming fervor — unpacking FRC’s 141-page game manual, testing various iterations of build and code material, keeping careful track...

In just a few weeks, MetalCow will have the chance to experience that collaboration once again when the competitive season begins in mid-March.  Their goal?  Returning to Houston to compete at Worlds. Emerging as a Division Winner. Taking it one step further and qualifying for the team’s first...

The next morning was lifted off of the pages of a fairytale — at least, to hear Dave tell it.  The sky in Elgin, Illinois on July 31, 1998 was filled with “beautiful puffy white clouds,” Dave said, “… it was a perfect day.” Pam had woken up anxious – she’s not a big fan of...

As the relationship progressed, Pam and Dave began feeling more and more certain of their feelings for each other.  Both were in their mid-20s. They’d had boyfriends, girlfriends. By now, they knew what they were looking for.  About a month after that first date, on a chilly December night,...

Valentine’s Day is not without its ups and downs. For those in a relationship, it’s a day dedicated to those you care about. For those who aren’t, it’s a 24-hour-long reminder of loneliness. But one thing everyone can appreciate, whether or not the Hallmark Holiday is marked on your calendar,...

Valentine’s Day brings to mind images of Cupid, heart-shaped cookies, candygrams and conversation hearts. When Mallory Thomison’s brought her homemade Valentine’s Day cake pops to the Inkspot classroom -- I was quickly reminded Valentine’s Day is about personalized acts of love. And what...

The only pinned playlist on my Spotify is titled “Christmas in October.” At the slightest hint of cold weather—which, in Illinois, comes early enough—it's on neverending repeat. After all, however you feel about the appropriate time to listen to Christmas music, no one can deny that Mariah Carey...

From Ghirardelli’s iconic holiday bark squares to Dairy Queen’s candy cane-flavored Blizzard of the Month, one flavor has always ruled my holiday season: peppermint. When I found this Christmas staple on Crumbl Cookies’ revolving menu one crisp December morning, I knew the treat—the Peppermint...