07/15/2026
Welcome to the eNest! 🪹🎮
Hello, Firebird family!
My name is Jalin Haadem, and I'm proud to be serving my second year as the head coach of the Devils Lake High School eSports Program. I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and explain the story behind our eSports Lab: The eNest.
When I first became the eSports coach, we didn't have an official lab—just an idea and a room with a lot of potential. It was the perfect fit because it had originally been one of the school's old computer labs before eventually being used as an overflow classroom for many years. Much of the infrastructure was already in place, giving us a great starting point to build something special.
(A quick shoutout to the teachers who share the room with me—thank you!)
Since then, we've slowly transformed the space. We've added five TVs, two gaming rocking chairs, a lockable storage cabinet, and a coach's station that also serves as a small display showcasing the history of video games along with a few of my own gaming collectibles. We were also fortunate to have a couch donated by another teacher, giving students another place to relax and gather. We're also hoping to add six gaming PCs later this year, pending approval of funds & shipping.
As the room came together, I knew it needed a name. I spent some time brainstorming different ideas and shared them with staff for feedback. One name immediately stood out: the eNest.
The name was a perfect fit. The "e" represents eSports, while "Nest" ties into our Firebirds mascot. Just as a nest is a place where young birds prepare to take flight, we hope the eNest is a place where students can learn, compete, make friends, and grow together.
This room has come a long way, and we're just getting started. I'm excited to share more of our journey, our students, and our program with all of you throughout the year.
If you have any questions about the Firebirds eSports Program or the eNest, please don't hesitate to contact me at: [email protected]
We're also planning to hold our eSports Interest Meeting in early October, so keep an eye on this page for more information as the date gets closer. Whether you're a returning player or just curious about joining, we'd love to see you there!
❤🧡💛 Go Firebirds! 🎮
(Additionally, I have included some pictures of the progress of the eSports Lab and the current ones are subject to change)
