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Starting this spring, middle school students took their seats in �����Ƶ’s state-of-the-art esports arena to venture into the world of competitive gaming. Through an innovative partnership between and , a nonprofit dedicated to bridging the opportunity gap among students in underinvested communities, these middle schoolers are getting a crash course in teamwork and leadership that goes beyond games.

This new program brings pre-teen students from a New York Edge site school to Pace’s esports arena every other week for an eight-week session. The students receive coaching from Pace Esports staff and varsity players, developing technical skills alongside teamwork and strategy. “This program is about helping serve New York Edge site schools, which are populated by underserved students, and getting them engaged through gaming,” says Jesse Bodony, Pace’s director of esports.

We get to learn how to work as a team and cooperate with others.—Eliel

New York Edge has long wanted to introduce esports programming to the community it serves. “Originally, the idea was that New York Edge would try to bring esports to their site schools,” Bodony explains. “But it’s a bit tricky because it's resource intensive. You need IT infrastructure, dedicated staff, and then you need esports specialists to make a program like that work.”

Pace offered a different solution.

What if, instead of creating gaming spaces at individual schools, New York Edge brought their students to a state-of-the-art college esports facility?

Now Pace Esports is testing this theory, providing an elite gaming environment and direct mentorship to New York Edge students, who are learning much more than just gaming, building essential skills like teamwork and problem-solving. According to Bodony, “It’s the same reasons why parents think it's worthwhile to plug their students into a sports team—being in an intimate team environment, learning to cooperate, learning communication skills, developing analytical skills, quick decision-making.”

It’s the same reasons why parents think it's worthwhile to plug their students into a sports team.—Bodony

Sixth grade student Braeden, who’s favorite game is Super Smash Bros., agrees and said his favorite part of the experience is being able to play with other students. “I get to talk with other people while I play. It’s very social,” says Braeden. “It helps me communicate with others which could help me in school, or when I get a job.” Eighth grader Eliel adds, “We get to learn how to work as a team and cooperate with others.”

Pace students are also getting the chance to practice new skills. Varsity players provide demonstrations and hands-on coaching during gameplay, and two varsity esports athletes have been hired as esports specialists by New York Edge.

The impact extends beyond current students, helping build the future of esports at Pace. “It's great from a future enrollment standpoint—these kids are now aware of Pace and our esports program, and that they could come here and be a player someday,” Bodony says. “New York Edge also gives funds back into our program in exchange for providing the instruction,” Bodony explains. “So, it's an equitable exchange.”

We're really excited about the potential for this pilot to grow into something larger. —Bodony

In a matter of weeks, this first class of gamers will graduate and New York Edge will evaluate the impact of this one-of-a-kind esports partnership. Their hope is to continue to grow by bringing two more schools to Pace this fall.

“We're really excited about the potential for this pilot to grow into something larger,” says Bodony. “For New York Edge, for the students, for Pace, for everyone.”

Images provided by New York Edge.