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Esports is the newest LHS program and it is about much more than playing video games. Students build high-end computers, help manage servers, and build a team to compete with other students around the state.
Businesses have found that highly skilled workers enjoy engaging with and around eSports. LHS joined on the ground floor with partners such as Port San Antonio and the San Antonio Museum of Science and Technology to build a greater presence and what will become a K16 pipeline for tech talent in the Greater San Antonio area. As we enter the 2022 - 2023 academic year, LHS will enter our third year of competitive eSports. We have refitted a small computer lab with enhanced computer performance machines and larger monitors along with several brands of gaming consoles. We have individuals and teams competing in both Fall and Spring seasons each year in several games or titles. The sell with eSports is not hard with students, but parents ask, “ what is the value of putting kids in front of a screen for yet more time?” It is a pertinent question and deserves to be addressed. Most kids are already playing video games, and in fact many dream of careers designing, building, or even playing video games. These jobs do exist, but they are not the target. In the same way that high school athletics rarely lead to becoming a professional athlete, but still provides valuable life lessons for students, active participation in eSports engages students in critical tech skills. Students need to be familiar with a computer’s hardware and software to make different games work. They need to collaborate with other teams via a Discord server. They even set up live streams of their games on Twitch so they can connect with a broader audience. All of these skills translate to real-world applications that are in demand in many industries. It is not just the tech industry that is looking to recruit and entice talent with eSports. Colleges and Universities have followed suit and now compete in Collegiate events and many more are now offering scholarships to eSports athletes. https://lnkd.in/g9ygdpyd Collegiate recruiters host recruiting events to seek out relationships with high school talent. https://lnkd.in/gfhUdBPZ Port San Antonio Even the US Military is using eSports to connect with young adults with interests in technology. Read more about ForceCon https://lnkd.in/grDkQE8T It is not just a recruiting tool for general enlistees as piloting a drone on the battlefield requires a similar skill set and has a similar environment and feel as competing in eSports. |
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