Commack High School, which ranks in the top 100 in New York state and 1,000 in the U.S., offers about 1,800 students a college campus feel and real-world preparation in Suffolk County. 

From its stock trading floor to an esports arena, Commack High has something for every student.

A front-row seat to stock trading

A custom-built Bloomberg trading floor is now up and running at Commack High, giving students a front-row seat to stock tickers and market fluctuations after the opening bell. 

“We have a challenge here and we get play money, and we’ve learned tools and how we analyze the stocks and which ones to invest in,” junior Luke Thayer said. “We also have a really cool club here called Personal Finance Club, which teaches all that financial literacy, stock terms, to be able to implement what we learn in the club.” 

“My father is actually in the finance industry and now because of this Bloomberg lab, I’ve been able to learn and go home and talk to him at the dinner table, and be like, hey, this is what I did today. And it kind of connects with whatever he does,” freshman Sham Dutta, said. 

It’s rare to say everybody wins when it comes to the stock market, but you can see the passion and interest at Commack High. 

Future litigators

If you’re a “legal eagle,” Commack High is also the place for you. These future litigators have been at the top of their game all year — a Final Four legal team on Long Island. 

“I’m super proud of this team, and I’m really proud to be the president this year and be able to guide everyone on the team,” senior Ava Javaheri said. “It’s really amazing because during mock trial competitions and practices, we’re able to immerse ourselves in the experience firsthand, of being in a trial and understanding the court system.” 

“All of our senior members, my team members, they’ve really helped me and they’re really uplifting and they’ve helped me become a better attorney every year, and the mentorship I’ve gotten from them has really been amazing,” Javaheri said. 

Hands-on cooking program

From the courtroom to the kitchen, Commack High has a hands-on learning program that lets students test drive careers at Wilson Tech. 

“I do my main classes here for five periods and then I hop on a bus. I go over to Dix Hills and my real day starts,” said Dean Kirschbaum. “I start out in the classroom, usually with a lecture about what we’re doing for the day. Get a recipe, talk about cooking methodology about how we’re going to prepare a certain dish, and then we’re right into the kitchen cooking.” 

Kirschbaum is headed to Johnson & Wales University, a hot bed for chefs-in-training, in Rhode Island. 

“There’s definitely tougher days than others. But I’m really focused on it just because I’ve been wanting to do it for so long. It kind of comes like second-hand to me and I just really love it,” he said. 

Clubs and honor societies 

Commack High has also managed to deinstitutionalize high school by making it a more casual, college campus setting. From the outdoor courtyard spaces to the cafeteria, which feels more like a food court, to an esports arena!

“When you think about it, there’s a whole career path where you can go with video games, and you could never think about you being there, but now, it’s like a career now. It’s a big business,” said a student named Joseph, who already won an esports national championship. 

Students Harold Teller and Francesco Delio go above and beyond to when it comes to getting other students involved. 

“Personally, I led a winter clothing drive which concluded with over 160 bags of clothing ready to be distributed through the Department of Social Services throughout Long Island,” Delio said. 

Teller raised money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention through Hoops for Hopes. 

“It’s really grown. Like, our first year in 2022, we only had, like, maybe like 100 kids, and now we had over 500 kids this march,” he said.

The second annual esports national signing day launched on Friday, with students from the class of 2025 announcing their future plans in the growing competitive-gaming space.

As part of the event, PlayVS and USA TODAY High School Sports—which first partnered in 2022 and since launched the first-ever Super 25 esports rankings—helped celebrate the reveal of several talented students heading to the collegiate level.

More: Esports Super 25 partner PlayVS to launch Hockey Gaming Initiative pilot with NHL/NHLPA

From standouts in “Overwatch 2” and “Super Smash Bros” to “Street Fighter” and “Valorant,” here are a few of the notable commitments from the day:

Ben Fogarsi, Detroit Catholic Central High School (Novi, Mich.)

Commitment: Syracuse University

Esport: “Valorant”

Nick Aldstadt, Detroit Catholic Central High School (Novi, Mich.)

Commitment: Michigan Tech University

Esport: “Valorant”

Leila Newell, Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School (Chicago, Ill.)

Commitment: Augustana College

Esport: “Overwatch 2”

Emily Percy, Newington High School (Conn.)

Commitment: Keene State College

Esport: “Overwatch 2”

Jaden Kendell, Paul Public Charter High School (Washington, D.C.)

Commitment: Capitol Technology University

Esport: “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” and “Street Fighter”

Ian Grant, Garnet Valley High School (Glen Mills, Pa.)

Commitment: Fisher College

Esport: “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” and “Street Fighter 6”

Aiden Van Bagwell, West Florida High School (Pensacola, Fla.)

Commitment: Fisher College

Esport: “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate”

Landon Green, Heritage Hall High School (Oklahoma City, Okla.)

Commitment: Southeastern Oklahoma State University

Esport: “Rocket League”

Jake Stimac, Brother Rice High School (Chicago, Ill.)

Commitment: Illinois Wesleyan

Esport: “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate”

Serenity Bundy, Canon City High School (Colo.)

Commitment: CSU Pueblo

Esport: “Marvel Rivals”

Gavin Pierce, Holliston High School (Mass.)

Commitment: Keene State College

Esport: “Valorant”

Congrats to the next generation of collegiate gamers!

Other esports students can join National Signing Day 2025 alongside USA TODAY HSS and PlayVS by posting their commitment videos on Instagram and TikTok and using the hashtags #playvs #esportsday.

More: Madden NFL Youth Championship at Lambeau Field highlights esports’ growth in Wisconsin

The University of Michigan-Flint Esports program is celebrating a landmark year, marked by deep playoff runs, a national championship appearance, and the program’s first Eastern College Athletic Conference title. The successes reflect both competitive excellence and a growing sense of community on campus.

Under the leadership of program manager Luke Rimarcik, UM-Flint Esports underwent a transformation focused on competitive growth and team cohesion. Rimarcik emphasized a shift from isolated efforts to a unified, driven environment where teams regularly scrimmaged, reviewed gameplay footage, and pushed each other to improve. “In the past, we’d only seen a couple of teams take things seriously,” Rimarcik explained. “This year, we set a new standard. The results speak for themselves, with Valorant and Rocket League making headlines for their playoff runs.”

Rocket League Maize: ECAC Champions

The Rocket League Maize team, comprised entirely of first-year students, had a historic season, going undefeated in the regular season and securing the university’s first ECAC playoff championship.

Jacob Cummings, a first-year computer science major from Owosso, credited the team’s success to “resilience and adaptability,” noting the team’s ability to exploit opponents’ weaknesses and rally in high-pressure moments. A defining point came in the semifinals when the team overcame a two-goal deficit to win a pivotal game, setting the stage for its championship run. “The playoff experience was amazing. Game 6 of our semifinals was the moment I knew we could win it all. We were down 3-2 in the series and fighting for our chance to stay in it. After we went down early, we rallied back from a two-goal deficit and won that game and the next one.”

For Cummings and his team members, they couldn’t be prouder of their accomplishments this season. “It feels incredible to bring home a trophy for the university, especially as an all-first-year team,” Cummings said. 

Keyshaun Jones, a first-year pre-nursing student from Fenton, highlighted the team’s communication and consistency as keys to success. “We kept our communication up and constantly worked on what we could do better during the game and practice,” he said. Jones was “ecstatic,” and winning as a rookie made the moment even more special. “As a first-year student, I never expected my teammates and I to travel such a distance. Seeing the effort we all put into securing this championship felt amazing,” he said.

Valorant Blue: From Roster Changes to National Contenders

The Valorant Blue squad overcame early-season roster changes and role swaps to find rhythm, eventually securing a spot in the National Esports Collegiate Conference national finals. Their journey included a dominant, undefeated run at the Ferris State LAN event. It resulted in UM-Flint’s first LAN trophy since 2022 and a critical win over the University of Oklahoma to advance in the national bracket.

First-year computer science major Tyrone Zheng from Commerce Township, who stepped into the in-game leader role, described the season as “long and tiring, but very exciting and fun.” The team’s ability to adapt and support each other was key to their late-season surge. “We finally have the winning formula and what it takes to win,” Zheng said. He also emphasized that the supportive environment at UM-Flint encourages new players to “be yourself and be involved.”

Helping the team reach new heights and make a deep run in the NECC playoffs was one of the more rewarding accomplishments for Zheng this season. “It feels great to win, obviously, it means a little extra to me personally because I know how much work and time everyone on the team has put both into the game and time outside the game,” he said. 

The team competed against the University of North Carolina-Wilmington earlier this month for a shot at the national title, coming up just short in a hard-fought match.

A Community Built for Success

UM-Flint’s state-of-the-art esports facility and select targeted scholarships have played a crucial role in attracting and developing top talent. The facility offers a space for both casual and competitive play, fostering camaraderie and team spirit. “Being able to yell and give your teammates fist bumps after every round adds so much value to the environment,” Rimarcik said. For Cummings, having a space to hang out with his team and unwind has been one of the highlights since joining. “Everyone in the program is so friendly and respectful toward each other. The lab is the best place on campus to go and relax and not be afraid to be yourself,” he said.

Rimarcik also highlighted the program’s inclusive atmosphere and commitment to student well-being. “I take it upon myself to connect with all the teams and try to get feedback on what they need. I see myself as the ‘dad’ of the program – always present, always supportive. We also aim to livestream daily during the season, Monday through Friday. We always try to change which teams we showcase each week, so we give every team a chance to be in the spotlight to show off their skills to the fans,” he said. 

The community and camaraderie among the teams have created an environment that Zheng said made his first year at UM-Flint memorable. “It has actually made my first school year really enjoyable. I’m always looking forward to next week’s match or practice. Being in the Esports program has brought a lot of enjoyable memories and friends.” 

With multiple teams making playoff runs, including League of Legends Blue, Overwatch Maize, Rocket League Blue, Fortnite, Super Smash Bros Blue and Valorant Maize, Rimarcik sees a bright future ahead. He is confident that the program’s upward trajectory will continue, driven by a culture of learning from setbacks and striving for excellence. “Some of these players have never competed on a team before. Helping them learn and grow is what makes this program special,” he said.

Rimarcik is particularly proud of the program’s progress and the recognition it’s starting to receive. “It’s nice to start making headlines to show prospective students and other organizations that the University of Michigan-Flint is making quite a few headlines for itself. Especially since we are the only varsity esports program among the three U-M campuses, it feels good to show and talk about all this new success within the program.” 

Current or prospective students interested in joining the program can contact Rimarcik at [email protected]. The team can be followed on its Instagram page or watched stream games on its Twitch channel.

Jack in the Box created its latest Munchie Meal in collaboration with Grammy-winning artist, streamer and podcaster T-Pain, and the T-Pain Munchie Meal is a new late-night option to fuel gaming sessions, creative sparks and more. “Late nights are when I’m at my most creative—whether I’m in the studio or gaming with my crew,” said T-Pain, “Jack has always been the spot for those sessions. This Munchie Meal hits every craving when I’m up all night chasing wins.” With T-Pain Munchie Meal, there’s a choice between a Burg-R-Tater Melt or Chick-N-Tater Melt, a taco, medium seasoned curly fries, a small drink, a stuffed cookie and a collectible T-Pain air freshener.

This gamer-approved meal follows the debut of Jack’s CEO Minigames in Fortnite earlier this year and launches alongside a new custom map, Jack Zone Wars.

Popular iGaming content provider BGaming has signed a new partnership with major Latin American operator Betcris. The deal will see all of BGaming’s innovative gaming content integrated onto Betcris’s online casino platform. 

The deal will further enhance BGaming’s position as one of the leading game providers in the Latin American market. Betcris is a pioneer within the region, owning over 100 walk-in shops and providing its online casino platform worldwide. 

The operator, best known for its sports betting service, has been in business since 2006, demonstrating a clear understanding of the demands of Latin American players. Betcris customers will now have instant access to BGaming’s dynamic slot portfolio, which includes titles like Wild Cash X9990, Wild West Trueways, Alien Fruits and more. 

Following the certification of its games for the Brazilian market in January, BGaming has established strategic partnerships with key LatAm operators such as Pixbet, PlayGreen and Timeless Tech.

Olga Levshina, chief commercial officer at BGaming, said: “Latin America is a major focus for BGaming in 2025 and, by partnering with industry-leading operators like Betcris, we can cement our position as one of the most creative content providers in the region. 

Betcris is one of the most respected names in Latin America, and this partnership is a statement of intent for our ambitions on the continent.” 

Diana Navarro, casino coordinator at Betcris, said: “At Betcris, we are always looking to partner with the best new names in the region. BGaming is a developer that has been on our radar for some time and it has already made waves within LatAm. We can’t wait to join them on their journey and see how our players react to their titles”.

Miami, Florida, May 29th, 2025/GamingWire/–In a major visibility push, FLOKI has signed a sweeping media partnership with New to The Street, a leading multi-platform financial media brand.

The three-month campaign will spotlight FLOKI’s fast-growing ecosystem, including its flagship MMORPG game Valhalla, and its broader mission to bring real-world utility to crypto.

The media rollout includes biographical interview segments airing nationwide on Fox Business and Bloomberg TV, commercial placements during business hours, high-frequency digital billboard displays in Times Square, and live investor events.

“FLOKI is one of the most innovative and community-driven platforms in crypto today,” said New to The Street Founder Vince Caruso. “This campaign ensures they get the national stage and financial audience they deserve.”

From Times Square to Bloomberg: What’s in the Campaign

FLOKI leadership will appear in two in-depth TV interviews each month, airing as sponsored content across Fox Business and Bloomberg TV, reaching over 219 million U.S. households.

FLOKI ads will light up the iconic Reuters 42nd Street Billboard 20 times per hour, four weeks a month. The initial ad campaign will spotlight Valhalla, FLOKI’s much-anticipated blockchain game, launching on mainnet June 30, 2025.

Over 100+ thirty-second commercials will run monthly across major financial networks like CNBC, FOX Business, and Bloomberg, with another 50 ads on Bloomberg kicking off in month two. Three press releases per month, NYSE interview recaps, and targeted pitches to ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX affiliates will amplify FLOKI’s reach beyond crypto circles.

All content will be posted across New to The Street’s 2.47 million YouTube subscribers and social platforms. FLOKI will join meet-and-greet events with brokers, host intimate retail investor gatherings in New York City, and take part in virtual sessions with family offices and accredited investors.

“I’m very excited about this partnership and sharing how FLOKI is making blockchain better than they found it,” said Pedro Vidal, the Community Relations Officer for FLOKI spokesperson. “This campaign will expand our efforts in revealing the levels of enhanced utility that is witnessed within our ecosystem. I’m dually proud and excited!”

About Floki

Floki is the people’s cryptocurrency and utility token of the Floki Ecosystem. Floki aims to become the world’s most known and most used cryptocurrency and intends to achieve this ambitious goal through a focus on utility, philanthropy, community, and marketing.

Floki currently has 550,000+ holders and a strong brand recognized by billions of people worldwide due to its strategic marketing partnerships.

Website: https://floki.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RealFlokiInu

About TokenFi

TokenFi is an innovative platform for crypto and asset tokenization, enabling users to launch or tokenize assets effortlessly. TokenFi is committed to revolutionizing the trillion-dollar tokenization industry by offering a user-friendly interface that requires no coding expertise.

Website: https://tokenfi.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tokenfi

About Valhalla

Valhalla is a blockchain-based MMORPG inspired by Norse mythology, offering players the chance to discover, tame, and battle with creatures called Veras. The game features a player-driven economy and a hexagonal battlefield designed for dynamic combat. Learn more at https://valhalla.game/

Users can play the game now, and it will be officially launched on Mainnet on June 30, 2025. Valhalla was developed by FLOKI.

Website: https://www.floki.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@FlokiOfficial

Telegram: https://t.co/vBZd3lbFQK

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/floki_crypto/

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@floki_crypto

Discord: https://discord.com/invite/floki

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/290420602797109/?ref=share

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/Floki/

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/officialfloki

Valhalla: https://valhalla.game

Contact

Community Relations Officer

Pedro Vidal

Floki

[email protected]