As summer is slowly beginning to wrap up, it brings to mind the few weeks that we have left until it is time to head back to our learning environments. Unlike high school, the new college semester brings more excitement and adrenaline than it does nerves or doubts. However, there is only one place that supplies this much happiness and success into the lives of many college students and I am sure you can guess where. That's right, James Madison University, home of the royal dukes. Not many places can compare to all that JMU has to offer and here are five reasons that make it the best university in Virginia.

1. We Hold Doors Open.

I know for all of you non-dukes, you are probably thinking, "cool, so does everyone else," but do you really understand the concept? At JMU, each student, professor and faculty member will hold the door open for you, regardless of whether you are one foot or three yards behind them. Lucky for you though, there is no such thing as an awkward zone here at JMU. You won't catch anyone without a smile and a nice "thank you" as you enter or exit a building.

2. We Bleed Purple And Gold.

Being a duke is not just a label, it's a lifestyle. It has never been so easy to love a large group of strangers, because this kind of bond just can't seem to be broken nor ignored. Whether you are a rising duke, current student or alumni, we all still seem to share a love and passion that no one else understands. Being proud to attend James Madison University is simply an understatement.

3. ESPN Game Day.

That's right, we hosted "ESPN College Gameday," and they practically begged us to let them come. For the first time in history, JMU was nationally broadcasted on television and we could not have been more excited about it. We definitely welcomed them to our house and had an absolute blast getting to hang out with them. JMU even held their first ever sleepover on the "Quad," where many students came together to count down the hours throughout the night until the big moment that we all had been waiting for, the live coverage of ESPN Gameday, began. With minimal to no sleep, it was easily the best weekend to be a duke.

4. Endless Opportunities.

Not only are you guaranteed a high-quality education here, you are also given hundreds of different clubs and organizations to choose from as well. While education is extremely important, so is exploring the world and finding passions that you may have never even known you had. There is an organization for just about anything and they help to find lifelong friends, while exploring something you love. JMU truly cares about supporting and providing endless opportunities for its students and makes sure that everyone finds their place that makes JMU their home.

5. We Beat Tech.

Did you really think I would leave this out?

I think Alpha Spitzer says it all when he claimed "JMU is not just an institution of higher learning, it is a spirit, it is an atmosphere, it is a way of life I am proud to say I have lived."