Emerald Esports

Our friends at Wazuzu have launched their first game! If you are in or near Philadelphia and want to play & explore the city….you can win cool prizes (including T-Swift tickets)!!!!

Explore Tower Tycoons in Wazuzu World and win exclusive prizes! 🏙️ Watch our video to learn how you can score Taylor Swift concert tickets for The Eras Tour this Friday 🎤🎫 with a 1 in 1000 chance. Available only at Chickie's & Pete's locations in the Philly area! Click the link in our bio to start your adventure today. #WazuzuWorld #TowerTycoons #TaylorSwift #philadelphia #philly #chickiesandpetes

OUTSIDE THE LINES OF CODE: RAYNE CLINTON
Emerald Esports recognizes the positive impact gaming has on a community as a whole. In this series, Outside the Lines of Code, we highlight the individuals, teams, and clubs affecting change, building community relationships, and spreading the positivity of utilizing video games in education. Venture outside the realm of gameplay and join "in real life" relationships, stories of inspiration, and the results of utilizing video games as a vehicle for learning, teamwork, and collaboration. This month the spotlight is on Rayne Clinton. Rayne says to reach the future, we must teach the future. His job at Liguori Academy in Philadelphia, PA, as the technology teacher and eSports coach, allows him to pursue this quest. Read more about Rayne in this month’s article here:

https://esports.emeralde.org/news/outside-the-lines-of-code/outside-the-lines-of-code-rayne-clinton-october-2022/

Thank you, Rayne, for sharing your story and inspiring other gamers like you. Connect with Rayne on Steam, Playstation, Xbox, and streaming platforms under the gamer tag, Suntotem.

Emerald Foundation
Liguori Academy

So much to celebrate at this year’s Chamber Dinner- a legacy realized, a new era, our local businesses, and amazing people. We are proud to be a part of our thriving community.

Sign ups are live for the Super Smash Bros. Summer Series Tourney! Dash over to our discord channel to get connected so you can dodge, tilt, jump, spike, and smash your way to the top of the leader board. First round starts Friday June 24th so don't lag on getting registered. Discord link here: https://discord.gg/yeMdwZVEvg Go to the channel and view the pinned post.

Congrats to the winners of the last Super Smash Brothers tournament! Stay tuned for an announcement for our next tournament starting later this month.



Emerald Foundation

Emerald Esports would like to congratulate all the graduating seniors out there for a job well done. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors whether they lead to jobs in esports or perhaps esports was your springboard to a related career path. We hope that your time spent in the Emerald Esports community will be cherished and that you will remember it as an integral part of your adventure that is your life. Go do great things and be the best version of yourself you can be.



Emerald Foundation

While there are many career opportunities in gaming, how can a student benefit from esports if they're not planning to pursue a career in the gaming industry? An aspiring biologist involved in their school's esports club says, "Esports shows you teamwork, how to work with people, and how to make friends."

Another student planning to become a teacher told Emerald Esports how esports has taught her to problem solve and break down any conflict step-by-step with a calm attitude, which can translate to overseeing a classroom setting.

Whatever a student's plans are for the future, esports can teach them lifelong skills used in any industry. We're happy to provide students with opportunities to learn through gaming by offering resources to k12 esports clubs, such as tournaments, mentorship programs, and guidance on managing an esports club. Check out our YouTube channel, Emerald Esports, or this video for more student interviews: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bC24iBzhV0

Club managers, teachers, and mentors are all valued members of an esports club ecosystem. They help guide students toward the right path by enriching students with teamwork activities and career exploration in gaming. In addition to mentoring from educators, there's also a ton of peer-to-peer education! Whether that be students assuming leadership roles like team captains or executive board positions, students have the opportunity to learn from each other as well. Through gaming and being on a team, students can actively learn and share experiences. Peer-to-peer education also enforces friendships and camaraderie between club members and offers an extra layer of support. Support can be anything from expressing good sportsmanship to helping each other with schoolwork to maintain their grades and remain active club members.

Emerald Foundation Founder and Chair Joe Besecker says, "We're trying to infuse education into esports. Educators will help students, but students will also have peer-to-peer education. They will educate themselves in a much more meaningful and long-lasting way." There are so many ways to learn in esports! Check out our YouTube channel, Emerald Esports, or watch this video with Joe Besecker: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54NwiUonnTE

Happy May! We’re starting a new month by introducing the esports club at Canon-McMillan High School, managed by Brian Klebanski in Washington County, PA. They’re looking to get completely set up with a club space next year, but in the meantime, utilize the cafeteria TVs to play Super Smash Bros Ultimate, Rocket League, and Mario Kart after school from 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Club Manager Brian Klebanski says, “The Canon-McMillan Esports team is a collaboration of students with a common interest-based in video games. Our goal is to foster a welcoming community where students can network, team-build, gain industry experience, and improve problem-solving and strategic thinking. We currently have about 90 members and are growing.” While it’s Brian’s first time managing an esports club, he is no stranger to the gaming community. As a video game player all his life, he’s excited to be part of building the program from the ground up, benefitting his students along the way. He says students can connect and bond over their shared interest in video games, and it provides them the opportunity to participate in team activities similar to traditional sports.

We look forward to seeing the club grow even more, and welcome to Emerald Esports! Keep up with Canon Mc-Millan High School:

Facebook: Canon-McMillan School District
Twitter:

If you're a parent wondering how esports benefits your child's social life and education, you've come to the right place! Emerald Esports facilitates career and academic growth for students through hosting gyo.gg ladder tournaments, providing mentorship programs, and aiding k12 schools in implementing esports clubs. Esports is not limited to one industry; becoming a pro player isn't always the path a student may choose. However, there are opportunities in marketing, business, IT, data, programming, events, and more!

In addition to the multitude of career possibilities for the future, providing students a safe environment to participate in esports encourages good practices in the present. Eric, a Conrad Weiser teacher, says, "Being involved in their school's esports club requires them to hold certain sets of standards such as grades, having appropriate conduct and it's also a great way for the kids to network and meet new people they've never met before." Maintaining grades and learning sportsmanship with their peers are skills students can learn when joining an esports club. Want to know more about what our teachers and mentors have to say? Check out our YouTube channel, Emerald Esports, or watch this video to hear more from Eric: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcX9EbPDLwA

Happy Monday! We're starting our week by highlighting HC Esports at Harbor Creek Jr and Sr High, managed by Kacy Kubeldis in Erie County, PA. Even though they are a brand new club they already have their club space set up and ready to play Rocket League, Fortnite, and Smash games after school from 2:45 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

HC Esports invites students from grades 7-12 to participate. They are inclusive to students who prefer casual gameplay and those who prefer competing against each other or other schools. Coach K, AKA Manager Kacy Kubeldis, is Harbor Creek Senior High School's Art and STEAM teacher. Teaching for HC for 13 years, she is dedicated to the student body and wants to provide as many opportunities for the students to explore as possible, with the esports club being one of them. As a lover of games, fun, and good-hearted competition, she volunteered to start the HC Esports program. Her hope is it'll become a staple to the HC community where students can have a safe place to play games and have a sense of belonging.

We are excited to have HC Esports as one of our clubs and will encourage as much growth and provide as many resources as possible for them to flourish. Welcome to Emerald Esports!

Keep up with Harbor Creek:

Facebook: , Harbor Creek JuniorHigh School
Instagram: ,
Twitter:

We’re delighted to introduce another Girls in Gaming mentor. Everyone say hello to Julie Jefferson! Julie is a Philadelphia native and graduate of Temple University. She spent much of her early career as part of several small businesses supporting marketing, human resources, and operations. Knowing kids were home with little to no socialization amid the pandemic, she co-founded KickTheDay as a 501c3 non-profit. The non-profit first launched FitNPlay, a program keeping kids ages five and up healthy and connected through outdoor fitness and collaborative group gameplay. In the summer of 2021, KickTheDay launched its second program, Gaming with Intention, at a K-9 school, introducing the fundamentals of competitive gaming while encouraging kids to strive for the best version of themselves. Julie and her family are on a mission to help as many kids as they can learn how to overcome obstacles and every day.

With her current work at KickTheDay helping kids learn and develop lifelong skills through gaming, she is an excellent addition to our Girls in Gaming mentorship. She’ll be leading discussions about career interests and women’s experiences in esports and leading our mentees through the fundamentals of event planning. Welcome to Girls in Gaming, Julie, and thank you for mentoring!