• FSU Panama City will launch a collegiate bass fishing team and a fishing club in the fall.
• The team is for experienced anglers while the club welcomes all levels of fishing experience.
• This will be the school’s second collegiate sports team, following the addition of esports in 2023.
• The school is working with a local high school bass fishing coach to organize the new team and club.

PANAMA CITY — FSU Panama City is expected to launch a collegiate bass fishing team later this year.

Lahontan Elementary School families sit in one of the informational sessions hosted by Principal Kimi Melendy during kindergarten registration night.
Provided to the LVN

CHURCHILL COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL

Churchill County High School celebrated a major milestone in the competitive gaming world.

Junior, Brian Gardiner, took second place in the High School Esports League (HSEL) tournament this season, a competition that brought in players from more than 240 schools across the western United States. This marks the first time a CCHS student has brought home a trophy from HSEL, which is currently recognized as the most competitive high school esports platform in the country.

Gardiner’s achievement in Super Smash Bros puts him among the top young gamers in the region.

“Brian, placing second in the HSEL finals is very exciting. If there are any students who think they’ve got what it takes, join our high school esports team next year and level up your game,” esports coach Aaron Holt said.

CHURCHILL COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL

Principal Victor Schoenfeldt hosted a completion of SBAC testing assembly on May 8 by honoring student effort and achievement during statewide testing.

Students packed the gym as Schoenfeldt drew winners for a highly anticipated raffle. Prizes ranged from Sour Patch Kids and gift cards to AirPods, a Nintendo Switch, and even an electric scooter. Students earned raffle tickets throughout testing week based on their effort and behavior. The fun continued May 9 with a field day for all the students who followed CCMS school-wide expectations during testing.

“The raffle prizes are a fun incentive, but we wanted to make sure every student felt recognized. Hosting a field day was the perfect way to celebrate everyone’s effort. I’m incredibly proud of how our students performed during SBAC testing. They are a fantastic group of kids, and they truly earned this celebration,” Schoenfeldt said.

NUMA

Kristina McFadden and Jerrilynn Nall’s classes dove into their energy unit with exciting, hands-on experiments that brought their science standards to life.

As part of their studies on physical science, students participated in an egg drop challenge to explore potential and kinetic energy, designing creative devices to protect eggs from high-impact falls. They also conducted a centripetal force experiment, learning how energy and motion work together to keep water from spilling while swinging upside down in a bucket.

“These engaging activities support our learning by helping our students observe and explain relationships between energy, motion and force,” McFadden said.

E.C. BEST

Teacher Appreciation Week was full of fun and surprises at E.C. Best last week.

Teachers celebrated with a top-secret dress-up challenge that kept students and staff, including Principal Brad Barton, guessing all week long. From mismatched shoes to mismatched outfits, the teachers got creative and had a blast.

Barton made the week even more special with a tasty snack bar, a roaming drink cart, and a delicious tri-tip lunch. It was a week full of appreciation, reminding our teachers just how valued they are.

LAHONTAN

Lahontan hosted a successful kindergarten registration night by welcoming 88 families and serving 100 meals, thanks to Chartwells.

Incoming students and their families met staff, did a scavenger hunt around the school, toured a bus, had the opportunity to learn more about LES from Principal Kimi Melendy, went through the lunch line for dinner and became more comfortable with their new school.

“I want to give a special thanks to the District Office registration team, transportation department, Chartwells, Title VI Indian Education liaisons, Student in Transition coordinators and our dedicated staff for making the evening such a success,” Melendy said. “We look forward to officially welcoming the Class of 2038 on Sept. 2.”

Nerd Street’s owned and operated gaming venues, known as Localhosts, are not only places where you can stop by to play your favorite games on high-quality gaming PCs and consoles. Localhosts also are the site of LAN tournaments, gaming community gatherings, private events, youth camps, brand activations and more. Every month, we’ll be spotlighting some of the best events that have happened at Localhost in Philadelphia, Rowan and Denver. Here’s a look back at some of the fun things that happened at Localhost over the past month.

Book an event with Nerd Street at Localhost!

Serving Philly’s Youth at Localhost

Photo credit: Nerd Street

Localhost was a hub for scholastic activity last month. From field trips to competitions to the start of new partnerships, April was a pivotal month for Localhost’s burgeoning relationship with the city’s schools and their students.

Early in the month, Furness High School had a field trip to the venue that saw 30 students engage in free play, a venue and studio tour and a Q&A session where students got to ask Localhost staff about their experience and time in esports. Later in the month, Kensington Creative and Performing Arts High School (KCAPA) and St. Joseph’s Prep also visited Localhost for tours as well as gaming and some tournament play in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Fall Guys and Fortnite.

More high school tournament play took place at the Nerd Street Youth League (NSYL) LAN. Vaux Big Picture High School, Liguori Academy, Philadelphia Electrical and Technology Charter High School and Roman Catholic faced off in Fortnite for some spirited competition.

Localhost began a new partnership with Memphis Street Academy last month, which made the venue the official practice space for the school’s Rocket League team. Localhost also launched a partnership with the Philadelphia Higher Education Network for Neighborhood Development (PHENND). Through this partnership, high school students from West Philadelphia will receive the opportunity to intern at Localhost and learn the ins and outs of the gaming and esports industry through an immersive project-based curriculum covering things like daily operations, event planning, programming execution, media services and technical maintenance.

One of the most unique events ever held at 401 N. Broad St. also took place last month. Localhost held its first ever youth fashion show by IVAT, a community organization dedicated to empowering and encouraging youth across the City of Philadelphia to express themselves under the umbrella of the creative and performing arts including dance, music, poetry and fashion design.

Minecraft Movie Madness

Photo credit: Nerd Street

Localhost Philly partnered with Warner Bros. to promote one of this year’s blockbuster movies, “A Minecraft Movie.” It was the perfect match because so many of the young gamers who visit Localhost love to play Minecraft. Families were invited to come and enjoy a day of block-based fun including in-game scavenger hunts and word searches to go along with plenty of Minecraft swag giveaways and some surprise passes to go see the movie in theaters!

Go For Broke Going Strong

The April edition of the Go For Broke fighting game monthly took place during the last weekend of the month. Attendees competed in Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, Under-Night In Birth 2, Guilty Gear Strive and the newly released Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves. In addition to the fighting game action, the second BeyBlade community tournament series took place as a tag-team 2v2 qualifier for the Tri-State Road to Domination Cup.

Return of the MACS

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The spring season of the Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Series concluded in April with League of Legends and VALORANT competitions. Drexel beat Temple in the grand final of the five-team LoL tournament. Drexel and Temple both had multiple teams at the League tournament, and Alvernia also competed. Harrisburg University defeated Rowan to cap off the 14-team VALORANT competition. Both schools had multiple teams at the VALORANT tournament, which also included teams from Drexel, Temple, Rutgers, Alvernia, George Mason, the University of Pennsylvania and Northern Virginia Community College, with many of these schools sending both varsity and JV squads.

Dropping into the Mirage Cup

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The biggest event last month at Localhost Denver was the Mirage Cup, a 15-team Alex Legends LAN. A team called Thuggets, featuring two Apex pros and one Localhost regular, outlasted the competition. A couple of collegiate teams performed well, with CU Boulder finishing second, and Colorado State placing in the top four.

CHSAA Championships

Photo credit: Nerd Street

The Colorado High School Activities Association was back in the building last month to crown champions for their spring seasons in esports. Highlands Ranch High School finished first in Mario Kart, while George Washington High School became the state champ in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Smoky Hill also won the first ever Unified Esports State Championship in Mario Kart.

CU Boulder Dominates RMCS

The spring edition of the Rocky Mountain Collegiate Series took place last month at Localhost. CU Boulder asserted its dominance among local collegiate teams, sweeping the competition in Rocket League and Overwatch 2. CU Boulder beat Western Colorado University to complete a perfect run in the Overwatch competition, and the Buffaloes beat the University of Wyoming in the grand final of the Rocket League tournament.

Rowan Roundup

Photo credit: Nerd Street

Localhost Rowan saw a wide variety of events take place in April. The Woodbury High Invitational featured four South Jersey schools competing in Marvel Rivals, Minecraft, Smash and Mario Kart.

One of Localhost’s own interns held a Rowan Students Community Night which included Smash and Mario Kart tournaments. The top two winners in each tournament got free gameplay hours as well as tickets to MMRBQ, a rock music festival in Camden, New Jersey.

Toward the end of April, the South Jersey Beyblade Association (SJBBA) held an exciting Beyblade tournament that brought out 20 competitors and included some competition on stage and a full stream.

Lead photo credit: Nerd Street

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Collegiate esports programs can be a powerful tool to combat male loneliness, says Baylor University’s first-ever esports director and coach, Adam Stanley.

With recent data highlighting increased isolation, declining social engagement and a growing sense of disconnection among young men, Stanley believes a comprehensive esports programs offer a solution—building community, promoting discipline and creating career pathways.

Building a successful esports program

“Esports is more than just playing games—it’s about connection, discipline and personal growth,” Stanley says. “We take what’s good about traditional sports—structure, accountability and mentorship—and apply those principles to esports.”

Colleges and universities looking to establish or enhance their own esports programs can start by recognizing the existing interest among students. “Students are already gaming and forming communities on their own,” he explains.

Campus leaders can encourage participation in esports programs by offering:

• Practice spaces: Designated areas for gaming and team-building.
• Mentorship: Coaches or faculty to provide guidance and support.
• Structured opportunities: Clear goals, scheduled practices and competitive events.

Baylor’s esports program is designed with three tiers:

• Varsity esports: Top players compete in competitive gaming in designated practice spaces with scheduled practices, team meals before matches and performance goals.
• Club-level esports: Students who enjoy gaming can participate in a less intense yet competitive environment.
• Recreational gaming: Casual gamers connect and play for fun, fostering social interaction without pressure.

Esports players at Baylor compete in popular games such as Rocket League, Valorant, Overwatch and Super Smash Bros.

Additionally, partnerships with established esports leagues or nearby institutions can expand competitive opportunities and offer broader support networks, according to Stanley.

Supporting student well-being through esports programs

Stanley emphasizes that esports programs offer much-needed social interaction for young men who might otherwise feel disconnected. “Students who might be isolated can find community, purpose and a sense of belonging,” he explains. “We’re building a new type of ‘gymnasium’—a place where students can thrive together.”

As part of its commitment to expanding esports opportunities, the university recently hosted the Texas High School championships. The event drew nearly 1,500 competitors to campus for a weekend of competition, community and skill-building.

Going beyond gaming to career development

Esports can also serve as a pathway to diverse career opportunities, including STEM, broadcasting and management. While Baylor’s esports program includes gaming fun, it also prepares students for success beyond the screen, Stanley states. “We’re not just training players; we’re developing leaders,” he says.

A model for other universities

With over 260 schools across the U.S. and Canada as members of The National Association of Collegiate Esports and competing for championships every year across a variety of video games, Baylor is part of a growing movement among universities recognizing the benefits of esports for student well-being and career readiness.

Stanley hopes the university’s esports program can serve as a model, providing students with structure, social connection and valuable skills they can carry into their futures.

 BRMUD, a viral Korean skincare brand, has partnered with FlyQuest, an esports organization—for a collaboration that aims to “bring K-beauty into the world of gaming.”

The collab’s online content and events will bring skincare into the gaming space. in community-driven way. FlyQuest says it’s a “bold, new crossover,” according to the press release, between K-beauty and esports.

The partners say they are creating a new culture with this project. It aims to open new markets, spark cultural conversations, and build community.

“Today’s gamers are confident, expressive, and care about how they show up both on and off screen,” explains Donghwan Kim, Head of Marketing US for BRMUD and CEO of KoMa Media. Kim is a former “StarCraft II” champion. KoMa Media is a Los Angeles-based marketing agency.

“Together with FlyQuest, we’re proving that skincare is a skill—and every player deserves a ritual that matches their game,” Kim says in a statement.

BRMUD recently had a viral moment with Cardi B. The K-beauty brand sold over 200,000 units in five months. The skincare products contain mineral-rich mud from Boryeong, Korea. The clean formulas claim to deliver smoother texture, tighter pores, and a visible glow.

What’s next? BRMUD is setting its sights on expanding in the U.S.