The North America Scholastic Esports Federation has just awarded scholarships to several students whose creative and analytic abilities were put to the test in NASEF’s Beyond the Game™ challenges. Students each received a $500 scholarship, as well as supplies or mentoring experiences related to their challenge topic. Congratulations to the following winners:

Abdul M.

Centennial High School, Corona, CA

Challenge: When I Grow Up: Interview an Esports Professional

Adam H.

Lampeter Strasburg High School, Strasburg, PA

Challenge: Adopt a Bot: Implement a Bot in Your Discord Server

CALAPS (California Advancing Pathways for Students), a team effort by the esports club

Submitted by Marco A. and Mark R.

CALAPS (California Advancing Pathways for Students), Lakewood, CA

Challenge: Let's Get Hype: Create a Club or Team Video

(The school will receive a grant for the entry since it was a group effort.)

Dorothy F.

Quincy Junior Senior High School, Quincy, CA

Challenge: Bring the Game to Life: Create Digital Fan Art

Ethan A.

Edison High School, Huntington Beach, CA

Challenge: Put Me In Coach: Analyze Game Play with VOD Reviews

Grace P.

Elite Prep San Jose, San Jose, CA

Challenge: Characters Come Alive: Create Fine Art Fan Art

Katrina M.

Troy High School, La Mirada, CA

Challenge: Fix the Meta: Develop a Better Game Patch

Nicole S.

Fairfield High School, Fairfield, IA

Challenge: Bring the Game to Life: Create Digital Fan Art

William O.

Eleanor Roosevelt High School, Eastvale, CA

Challenge: Fix the Meta: Develop a Better Game Patch

NASEF helps students understand and experience a range of opportunities in the esports world, which includes tournaments but also extends to a wide variety of supporting and related jobs. Beyond the Game™ challenges offer a chance to practice those skills.

In addition to demonstrating a particular skill, students had to research and describe the related career, and make connections for themselves. They described how this experience contributed to career aspirations and how it changed their thinking about a career in the esports industry.

Marco A. and his friend Mark R. participated in one of the creative challenges, working with their school’s esports club to submit the winning video. He said, “The first time I heard about esports, I couldn’t believe that this could be a career. Now, every time after the esports class ends, I will tell my parents all about the offers and jobs there are in esports. I want to say thanks to my teacher, my partner who helped out with the challenge, and to NASEF for giving people the opportunity to learn about esports and to gain experience through these challenges.”

Katrina M. demonstrated her skills by creating a better meta (the game within a game). She said, “Video games has always been a huge part of my life, and I’m glad to be in an esports community that’s so inclusive and unique. I’d like to thank NASEF for being given this amazing opportunity to learn more about the field.”

As esports grows in popularity, NASEF is also expanding to offer its unique “scholastic esports” programs to youth through schools and community-based organizations. These programs are always provided free of charge to ensure that all students have the ability to participate. NASEF gladly and freely shares its breadth of knowledge, programs, and expertise to enable students around the world to experience its unique blend of play and learning. Students and educators with an interest in joining NASEF for the upcoming school year can get more information here.

About the North America Scholastic Esports Federation

The North America Scholastic Esports Federation is working to ensure that ALL students possess the knowledge and skills needed to be society’s game changers: educated, productive, and empathetic individuals. NASEF is on a mission to provide opportunities for ALL students to use esports as a platform to acquire critical communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills needed to thrive in work and in life. The Federation’s core values are intertwined through all aspects of education and play: learning, opportunity, community, diversity, and respect.

Learn more at the NASEF website. See matches streamed live on our Twitch channel, and join online conversations on Twitter @NASEFedu, Facebook, and Instagram.

Media Contact:
Claire LaBeaux
[email protected]
925-337-0244