On March 19, 2025, the energy inside the Riverside County Office of Education Esports Arena was electric—not only because of the gameplay but also because of the students who made it all happen. From camera angles and lighting cues to shoutcasting and show flow, students from Val Verde Unified School District’s Citrus Hill High School ran the first official pilot of the Power of Esports and Experiential Learning (PEEL) program from start to finish.

And they didn’t just run the show—they produced it with professionalism, poise, and an astonishing level of technical skill.

This event was more than a showcase of student talent. It was proof of concept: a demonstration that hands-on, career-connected learning can be dynamic, meaningful, and entirely student-led. And it’s only the beginning.

A Program Born from Passion and Purpose

The PEEL Program is a year-long initiative developed by the Riverside County Office of Education to connect students with real-world experiences in live event production, broadcasting, digital media, and marketing—all through the high-interest lens of esports. When it officially launches next school year, schools will be able to sign up for a tournament slot, bringing a team of students to our state-of-the-art Esports Arena to plan, rehearse, and execute their own event.

After signing up and receiving a training packet to familiarize the student team with the arena layout, equipment, and rubrics for evaluating their show, each school’s participation follows a two-week cycle:                    

Training Day: Students explore professional equipment—like our TriCaster system, Element 2 lighting console, and full audio mixing suite—while planning their production.

Tournament Day: The lights go up and students run the event, taking charge of the tournament brackets, shoutcasting, live streaming, event branding, guest experience, pre- and post-game interviews, and more.

Every aspect of the tournament is managed by students, with guidance from their teachers and mentors. At the end of the season, winners will be recognized and celebrated at our Annual Esports Awards, where prizes will be awarded to the top-performing schools.

Celebrating the Champions Behind the Scenes

This pilot would not have been possible without the inspiring leadership of Doug Henderson, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics and Career Technical Education Director at Val Verde Unified School District. His vision and commitment to creating engaging, relevant, and career-aligned experiences for students—both inside and outside the classroom—helped to inspire this transformative learning opportunity. This also would not have been possible without the support of Shawn Robinson and Lee Hyde from Lenovo who supplied the gaming PCs for this event. 

A special thank-you also goes to two incredible educators from Citrus Hill High School:

Esteban Benavidas, who leads the leadership class and fosters student ownership and collaboration, and Jonathan Nunez, who equips students with the skills of professional media production and helps them refine their craft.

These educators are the quiet heroes behind the scenes, championing new opportunities for students and empowering them to take risks, explore new industries, and create meaningful opportunities for themselves and others.

And of course, the students themselves deserve the highest praise. The pilot crew demonstrated exceptional professionalism and technical expertise as they operated high-level production tools, executed a live show, and supported one another throughout the process. They are the clearest evidence of why this program matters.

A Call to Partners: Help Us Expand the Vision

While many schools have on-campus production programs, few have access to an esports-dedicated venue equipped with professional-grade gear—let alone one that gives students full ownership over the event.

That authenticity is what sets PEEL apart.

This isn’t a simulation—it’s real. Real lights. Real cameras. Real audiences. Real learning.

To grow the program and keep it free to participating students and schools, the Riverside County Office of Education is looking for:

• Industry professionals in media, marketing, esports, and broadcasting to mentor students
• Sponsors and partners to help fund program operations, scholarships, and improving game variety.

Whether you're a professional looking to give back or an organization interested in supporting education and innovation, we’d love to hear from you. Your involvement will make a lasting difference for students preparing for careers in rapidly growing, high-demand industries.

If you're as inspired by these students as we are, we invite you to become part of the PEEL story.

Contact:

Steve Hickman, Ed.D.

Coordinator, Instructional Services

Riverside County Office of Education

[email protected]

Note: Through NASEF Clubs and Affiliates, programs similar to PEEL are blossoming across the United States and around the world. To learn about and partner with the scholastic esports program near you, please email [email protected] 

Let’s work together to build the future of esports—and the future of learning.