Insight announcements FTW! Insight, Intel Level Up Two Schools’ Esports Experience with New Gaming Labs

It used to be that video gaming was seen as a waste of time, a dead-end distraction from schoolwork and the original social-distancing practice way before terms like “pandemic” were part of our daily vernacular. 

But esports has gone next level when it comes to introducing students to new career tracks in and out of a gaming industry that today generates more revenue than the NFL, film, music and video streaming industries … combined. Incorporating education around gaming can make students marketable in tech-oriented fields that are becoming increasingly relevant, such as programming, game design, data analytics and information systems. 

Unfortunately, many schools lack the resources or expertise to create a high-performing esports program, making it a challenge for students — many of whom never participate in traditional extracurricular school activities — to get involved.

We understood just how great this need was when we launched our Insight Esports Makeover Contest last year in partnership with Intel and saw nearly 200 high school and college programs make their case to win $30,000 in new Intel^® 13th Gen gaming equipment. Our winners were Catawba Valley Community College (Red Hawk Esports) in Hickory, North Carolina, and Garden State Esports, a New Jersey non-profit league that awarded its makeover to league member Manasquan High School (MHS) in Manasquan. Each was well-deserving, with rapidly growing esports programs, yet sorely in need of a gaming equipment boost.

Thanks to the makeovers, both schools recently opened new and improved gaming labs that we designed after assessing their equipment needs during our campus visits.

Opening New Doors at Manasquan High

MHS recently held a grand opening of an upgraded esports room that features 20 new MSI Codex R 13 Gen Intel^® Core^™ i5 gaming desktops and monitors. Before the makeover, MHS esports students largely had to compete from home since the school’s laptops were so dated.

“You couldn’t game on them, they’re not made for gaming,” said Amy Edwards, MHS esports team faculty advisor. “We didn't really have a way for the kids to play, and we lost the students who are in the lower socioeconomic groups (who couldn’t afford to game from home). We also lost our special needs students who really don't have the functional independence to play by themselves but would really love to play with their peers and gain that interaction with their peers.”

A New Competitive Edge at Catawaba

As a former math teacher myself, I understand the importance of creating an inclusive opportunity for all students regardless of age, gender, socioeconomic status or ability. Esports are unique in this respect. It’s an activity that appeals to the widest range of students possible, something Catawba has experienced as its esports team attracts new students not only to the team but overall enrollment at the college.  

“Three years ago, we started our esports program at CVCC with a single Nintendo Switch,” said Cody Dalton, Red Hawk Esports head coach. “These new Intel-powered gaming PCs will not only elevate the quality of our program but also help us grow and continue to impact the lives of students.”

Connor Alne, otherwise known as Coach Alne, the first esports influencer on TikTok, visited the Red Hawk campus after the Makeover: “While many colleges across the country have tons of students who are into gaming, very few have an esports lab for them to find a home. Esports has made a tremendous impact on the students who have joined the Red Hawk program, and Insight’s makeover provides a total equipment refresh that will help them grow and give more opportunities to students.”

Esports: A Modern Way of Learning

Insight provides tailored esports solutions to support educational institutions at every stage of their esports journey. This includes consulting for program startup, cutting-edge technology, specialized knowledge in gaming systems and peripherals, network optimization, audio-visual integration, maintenance services, and network and device security.

Providing schools like Manasquan and Catawba with cutting-edge gaming equipment provides an appealing collaborative setting to explore the technical and computational skills that are critical for advancing careers in STEM.

Snow White, director of education sales strategy at Intel, said: “Esports offers a unique opportunity to gain universal skills like communication, collaboration and problem-solving while having fun at the same time. By participating, students develop these essentials in competitive and engaging environments, preparing them for success in both education and future careers.”

I hope you share a passion for gaming like we do. Not only for the fun it provides but as a chance to develop soft skills and the technical proficiency needed for just about every modern career track. Whether it’s for a future in coding, graphic design or digital marketing, esports pave the way for new practical learning environments. It captures the attention and imagination of students of the post-pandemic classroom in a way that traditional coursework no longer can.

If your program needs help getting going on gaming — or taking your teams to that next level — reach out directly to me and the Insight Public Sector education team. We’ll get you going with the right curriculum for your school’s needs and, of course, the best gaming equipment possible from our great partners like Intel.