THE FOLLOWING IS A DANVILLE AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE RELEASE

DANVILLE – Danville Area Community College is proud to announce that alumnus and current Director of Audio, eSports, and Community Engagement Michael “Guido” Esteves has been named the 2025 recipient of the Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA) Pacesetter Award. He was honored at the ICCTA Awards Banquet held Friday, June 6 in Bloomington, Illinois.

The ICCTA Pacesetter Award recognizes recent community college graduates who have made outstanding achievements in their careers and in service to their communities. Esteves, who works full time for DACC, was chosen for his innovative work in music education, digital arts, eSports coaching, and student mentorship—all of which reflect the transformative power of community colleges.

A DACC graduate himself, Esteves returned to college as a non-traditional student, determined to create a meaningful path forward. He found that path at DACC, where he thrived academically and discovered his passion for teaching and mentoring students. Today, he serves as a volunteer music educator through the Project Success program, working directly with students at Danville High School. In this role, he uses music and creative expression not only as an educational tool, but as a way to introduce high school students to the opportunities available through community college.

In addition to his work in the classroom, Esteves is the driving force behind DACC’s nationally ranked eSports program. As head coach, he has guided Jaguar athletes to back-to-back national championships in Mario Kart and helped individual players achieve national rankings. His leadership has made DACC a standout in collegiate eSports and has opened new academic and career pathways for students interested in gaming, digital media, and technology.

“Guido is a powerhouse of creativity, energy, and heart,” said Dr. Randall Fletcher, DACC President. “Whether he’s teaching music, coaching eSports, or mentoring a student one-on-one, he gives his all—and students respond to that. His journey is a powerful example of what a community college graduate can accomplish.”

Outside the classroom, Esteves is known for his dedication to student engagement, diversity, and inclusion. He has helped hundreds of young people find their voice—whether through a musical performance, a digital project, or a competitive gaming experience. His work helps students see education as something personal, empowering, and achievable.

“Winning the Pacesetter Award is such an honor,” said Esteves. “But the real reward is seeing students grow into who they’re meant to be. DACC changed my life, and I’m just trying to pass that on.”

DOWNINGTOWN —  Over 40 educators and coaches, along with 25 students and 12 sponsors, gathered on Monday, June 2, for the inaugural Pennsylvania Scholastic Esports League (PSEL) Esports Expo at the Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU). The event featured a Rocket League tournament and offered a full day of exploration into the dynamic world of scholastic esports.

The event provided participants with opportunities to witness competitive gameplay, explore cutting-edge esports solutions, and build valuable connections in the esports education space. The tournament ran bracket style with top teams competing in the final competition.

“We were thrilled to welcome so many of our scholastic esports colleagues from Pennsylvania and beyond to our first PSEL Esports Expo,” said Kammas Kersch, director of the PSEL Esports League. “As an educator-led league, it is important to us to continue to foster learning opportunities for both students and educators. One of the highlights of the day was getting to spend time networking with our PSEL community!”

Kersch, who is also the CCIU STEM services coordinator, opened the event with a welcome and introduction that focused on key pillars for setting up an esports program in schools.

Several sponsors hosted engaging spotlight sessions designed specifically for educators, offering valuable insights, tools, and resources to help support successful scholastic esports teams.

The Rocket League finals saw an exciting playoff between West Chester Henderson High School and Chichester High School, with both teams showcasing impressive skill and teamwork. In a thrilling finish, Henderson High School emerged as the tournament champions.

Matt Swan, CCIU STEM innovation specialist, emphasized, “The Rocket League matches were full of great highlight plays, and in the end West Chester Henderson walked away as the champions without losing a single game!”

Swan continued, “We want to congratulate the players from West Chester Henderson on their phenomenal performance and also recognize the players from Chichester High School & 21st Century Cyber Charter School. We look forward to our next chance to showcase the skills of these amazing student competitors!”

Karen Ruggles, DeSales University varsity esports program director, closed the event with a talk that channeled the day’s excitement into a reflection on the future of esports—encouraging attendees to recognize how gaming, competition, and community can fuel personal and professional growth, while inspiring them to embrace their individual potential to shape a thriving, positive future for the industry.

The event received overwhelmingly positive feedback from attendees, sponsors, and students alike. Educators and parents praised the organization and valuable insights shared, sponsors appreciated the meaningful engagement, and students were energized by the high-level competition and community-centered atmosphere.

The CCIU Events Team and PSEL Esports Team is already planning for the next event and looks forward to bringing esports colleagues together again soon.

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Donald Promnitz is the associate editor of the Ottumwa Courier and the Oskaloosa Herald. He can be reached at dpromnitz@ottumwacourier.com. Follow him on Twitter @DonPromnitz.