On Saturday, December 7th, Moreno Valley Unified School District (MVUSD) partnered with the Riverside County Office of Education (RCOE) to host the annual MVUSD All-Girls Mario Kart Tourney, RCOE Super Smash Bros Crew Battles, and Scholastic Esports Expo. In addition to showcasing esports to the local community, the event aimed to encourage more girls to participate in esports by providing a space where they could compete, connect, and develop leadership and technical skills.

Superintendent Dr. Alejandro Ruvalcaba said, “We are incredibly proud of our district team’s continued efforts to create opportunities for all students to shine, and the All-Girls Mario Kart Tournament is a testament to that commitment. By fostering an inclusive environment where students can bond over shared interests like esports, we are not only building a sense of community but also empowering young women to explore leadership, technical skills, and career pathways.”

The event was planned by a committee of female students from Badger Springs Middle School, led by 7th grader Alexis Lopez, coach Alyson Moore, and coach Alyssa Fejeran. The committee took charge of organizing all aspects of the event, from developing ideas to setting up and testing gaming equipment. Their efforts were supported by Joshua Combs, whose leadership from the district level provided the resources needed for the event to succeed. The planning committee gained hands-on experience in areas such as IT Support, Event Management, and Content Creation, skills aligned with the Network of Academic and Scholastic Esports Federation’s (NASEF) college and career pathways.

Student Angel B. is a streamer who supported the event. She said, “What made me most excited is getting to connect with the other girls in the esports club. It was a nice opportunity to connect with the future girls of esports and provide a bit of guidance and inspiration to them.” Angel, a high school senior, has demonstrated her skills in streaming and leveraged those talents to earn a scholarship to University of Redlands. 

The event featured several attractions to engage attendees, including a student Art Walk, face-painting, a binary code keychain station, a cosplay contest hosted by Nerd Mafia, a Minecraft selfie booth, and a free play area with games like Just Dance and Super Smash Bros. Lunch was generously sponsored by Taqueria Dos Potrillos, and local businesses and non-profits donated prizes for the top three Mario Kart finishing teams, adding excitement to the competition.

The event also featured girls shoutcasting Super Smash Bros matches, providing live commentary and offering a glimpse into the growing career field of esports broadcasting and media production.

A highlight of the event was the Big Sisters program, which paired female adult mentors with Mario Kart teams from elementary, middle, and high schools. These mentors, from various professional backgrounds, cheered on the teams, offering encouragement and fostering mentoring relationships. The program helped young women gain confidence while considering future possibilities in scholastic esports.

Ammy Escobar Ruiz, Grade 6, Badger Springs Middle School, said, “The thing that made me the most excited was seeing the posters that my friend and I worked hard on for the event because it inspired the girls that were competing in the tournament about female protagonists and how it’s not only a boy-dominated sport.”

The tournament itself was competitive and engaging, with participants showcasing both their gaming skills and sportsmanship. Over 100 attendees enjoyed a fun, well-organized day, illustrating the potential of Scholastic Esports to empower young women and build community connections.

MVUSD Esports is grateful to the Riverside County Office of Education, the planning committee from Badger Springs Middle School, and all the volunteers and mentors who made this event possible. The event was a successful celebration of creativity, inclusivity, and empowerment. They look forward to hosting more events that encourage young women to get involved in the scholastic world of esports.