April 23, 2024 – Carver High School Esports Athlete Yahir Joya-Escobar recently won an essay contest hosted by the Varsity Esports and STEM League (VESL), and with it, a high-end gaming PC that will help him succeed in his sports and his studies.
VESL is an organization committed to reaching students as they chart the course for their future in an increasingly digital economy. Whether it’s drone piloting, web design, artificial intelligence, media editing, or a bevy of other STEM careers, today’s students need to get a firm handle on computer science to succeed in the job market in the next few years. Competitive video gaming is one way that educators can ease students into computer science because it creates opportunities to have fun while learning the inner workings of the machine to get every competitive advantage.
“We want students to engage more with technology,” said CJ Collins, Director of Esports for VESL and a former professional Call of Duty player. “There are so many careers in STEM on the way right now, and esports are one way that we can get our students the tools that they need to be ready.”
Esports-ready computers are major investments, generally exceeding $1,000 in price because of their intense graphical rendering needs. Their more sophisticated technology doesn’t just contribute towards gaming performance, of course – they’re also well-suited to complex coding tasks and visual arts, making them useful in a variety of classes and professional disciplines. In his essay, Joya-Escobar explains the financial hardships he’s experienced in his childhood and the major difference that an advanced PC could make in his career trajectory. Now that he’s won, he’s just as excited about practicing his coding skills as he is about honing his skills in Valorant.
“This gives me a lot of new opportunities,” Joya-Escobar said. “I hope that a lot more people are going to get those opportunities soon, too.”
Joya-Escobar plays Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for Carver’s esports team, which also has athletes in games like League of Legends, Overwatch, Rocket League, and more. Student athletes in the club not only benefit from a greater understanding of computers, but they also learn the strategic thinking and collaborative skills that students on traditional sports teams learn. Business and Drone Technology Teacher Kelvin Fincannon says that students have a lot to learn from esports, and just as importantly, it’s an additional opportunity for them to find their passion while in school.
“Not everybody is interested in traditional sports,” Fincannon said. “But this way, we’re able to capture everyone’s attention.”