May 5, 2022 - (Phoenix, Arizona) – Competitive gaming has set the world ablaze and is now set to ignite students all across the Pendergast Elementary School District (PESD). PESD is excited to announce the Pendergast eSports League, which aims to captivate middle school students’ passion for video games through organized competition in a safe and secure environment. 

eSports is a form of competition using video games. In most cases, eSports are organized multiplayer video game competitions between competitors, which can take place individually or as teams. eSports are more than just video games; it is community, engagement, and relationship building. 

As the eSports industry continues to grow, we are beginning to see an increase in eSports teams as an extracurricular activity in schools. Because eSports revolves around some of the video games that students play at home, many families struggle to understand how this extracurricular activity is beneficial to a student’s education. 

Recent studies show that eSports can help a student’s well being, improve their reading skills, help develop problem solving skills, improve their social connections, and will even enhance their imagination and creativity. Furthermore, eSports promotes teamwork and cooperation with others and shows students the importance of community. Giving students early exposure to all facets of the eSports world can spark interest and help prepare them for future opportunities in graphic design, coding, leadership, video production, and even art direction. 

PESD intends to equip and prepare students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully enter various career fields within the eSports umbrella. We also aim to fully prepare our eSports competitors for success if or when they compete in high school or college eSports leagues. Our eSports competitors will receive guidance and mentorship to not only improve their gaming skills, but to motivate and encourage them to start thinking and preparing for the future. 

Our PESD eSports competitors share, “I am so excited for this opportunity. I have a passion for playing video games and I am looking forward to competing and representing my school.” “I first heard about the Pendergast eSports League through my mom and I was so excited when I saw that it was finally launching.” “Video games are a pretty big part of my life and I cannot wait to participate in the PESD eSports League!”

According to Catherine Linhardt, STEAM & Technology Integration Specialist, “The Pendergast eSports League is a game changer. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for our students that will allow them to explore their imagination and creativity through something that they are passionate about. Not only will they have fun, they will be challenged, encouraged, and empowered to reach new heights. The Pendergast eSports League will implement all STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, & Mathematics) concepts to form an interactive experience that motivates eSports competitors to think critically, expand their knowledge, actively listen,  and problem solve in unimaginable ways.”

Dr. Jennifer Cruz, Pendergast Elementary School District Superintendent shares, “We are incredibly excited to launch the Pendergast eSports League. The utilization of video games, technology, and gaming culture is a remarkable way of sparking student engagement. Pendergast District is always seeking ways to provide exceptional educational experiences for our students, and this is just another way that we are helping our students gain knowledge, skills, and opportunities that prepare them for the future!” 

We are proud to share that the Pendergast eSports League is sponsored by our incredible business community. Thanks to their commitment to empower our future generations, we can continue equipping students with the skills to thrive in their future endeavors and aspirations. 

The Pendergast eSports League launched  in May, 2022 and will host its first championship tournament on May 24, 2022. The championship event will be held at Camelback Ranch Glendale (MLB Spring Training Facilities) located at: 10710 W Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85037. This is a free event open to the public, which is set to begin at 5:30 PM. We encourage you to mark this date on your calendars and join us!

The future is bright for our PESD students, and it’s time to game on! For further information about the Pendergast eSports League, contact Ms. Catherine Linhardt, STEAM and Technology Integration Specialist at clinhardt@pesd92.org or 623-772-2311.