Attendees of last month’s Esports Summit had a chance to network and learn from other industry leaders and educators. Summit took a deep dive into how competitive gaming is shaping education, careers, and opportunities. Packed with insightful sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities, attendees agree that Esports Summit is a critical event to learn about the current and future landscape of esports.

Esports Summit is an anchor event for Games Week Georgia, which also includes Atlanta Digital World Summit, an Entertainment Industry Mixer, Creator Summit, DreamHack ATL, and more.

Youth Perspectives

Here’s an overview of the event from Zeke Hernandez, a senior at Cannon School. “I’m part of the Business of Esports class, and my classmates and I recently had the opportunity to represent our company at the Esports Summit in Atlanta on October 2, 2024. Our company, Collective Esports Company (CEC), was founded through Cannon School’s entrepreneurship program, and we focus on esports consulting, events, and building programs for schools.

 “The Esports Summit was an incredible experience for our team. It gave us the chance to connect with some of the top leaders and professionals in the esports world who share our passion for growing esports in education. Two of our team members, Brianna Larkins and Phenix Brown, got to meet with Jihan Johnston-McGlotten, who’s the Co-Founder of Beatbotics and an esports education expert for NASEF. Their conversation was super inspiring, and Jihan even invited us to join the Lioness Girl Gaming Expo the next day, which showed a wide variety of women in esports and how they overcame their struggles and became successful!

 “On top of that, CEC had the chance to form partnerships with a bunch of amazing companies and people. We showcased what we do, from setting up esports programs to organizing large-scale tournaments, and it was awesome to see so many people excited about our work. A standout moment for us was when we connected with Scott Dorn and Mykiah Bonhom at Spectrum Industries and presented a partnership proposal which went super well and we are looking forward  to working with them. We also had the chance to speak with Danielle Rourke, the Technology and Innovations executive at CDW. We had a great conversation about CEC’s mission and talked about the possibility of future collaborations.

 “A few of our students attended a content creation panel during the summit. Gabe Zelaya shared his biggest takeaway: ‘Believe in yourself even if you don't get your desired outcome. Don't stop just because you don't succeed right away.’

 “Overall, the Esports Summit was a fantastic experience for all of us at CEC. One of the highlights was the Mario Kart tournament, which was so much fun, and we’re eager to add it to our future events! We’re looking forward to building on the connections we made and continuing to push the boundaries of esports education.”

 Key topics and speakers at the 2024 Esports Summit

Esports in the Olympics: Esports is officially becoming an Olympic sport! This session explored the ongoing conversation about integrating competitive gaming into the Olympics, from the challenges to the possibilities. Speakers: Stefy Bau (Init Esports), Bethany Pyles (USEF.GG), Stephen Hanna (ESIC), Todd Harris (Skillshot Media and Ghost Gaming)

Stefy Bau, CEO of Init Esports, said, “Attending the Esports Summit for the first time was an inspiring experience. I had the privilege of speaking about the future of the Esports Olympics and my role in building the roster for Team USA in sim racing, a project that’s close to my heart. One of the highlights was joining the Lioness Girl Gamers event, where I introduced the Sim 4 STEM program to young women and encouraged them to pursue their passions in gaming and STEM. Game Week in Atlanta showcased a vibrant community of bright minds, and NASEF did an outstanding job demonstrating how esports can thrive in schools. It’s events like these that make a real impact, bringing together educators, gamers, and innovators to shape the future of esports.”

Engaging Elementary Esports: Esports isn’t just for older kids! Educators shared how schools are implementing esports programs for elementary students, emphasizing teamwork, strategy, and digital citizenship. The discussion also covered how to engage parents’ interest and support. Speakers: Jeanna Dawson (NASEF Community / Owner of Emergent Esports League), Kevin Brown (NASEF), Tommy Clay (Atlanta Public Schools), Julius Edwards (NASEF Community / Esports Director of Palm Beach Lakes, Vice President of Sunshine State Esports League), John Phillips (NASEF Community / Southwest Michigan Esports League), Edgardo Montanez (NASEF Community)

Growing Middle & High School Competitive Esports: Esports at the middle and high school levels is exploding! This session covered how to create competitive teams and leagues, how schools are incorporating esports clubs into extracurriculars, and how gaming can connect students to new learning opportunities. Speakers: James Wood (NASEF), Mackenzie Kaiser (PlayVS), Cooper Fiscus-Van Rossum (NASEF Community / Georgia Film Academy), & Jeffery Harrison (NASEF Community / East Baton Rouge School System), Regina Schaffer (NASEF Community / Middletown Township Public Schools)

Collegiate Esports Sustainability: Colleges and universities are increasingly offering scholarships and dedicated esports programs. Collegiate leaders discussed building long-term programs, funding strategies, and how institutions are using esports to attract students and build community. Speakers: Michael Brooks (NACE), Joey Gawrysiak (Syracuse), Doc Haskell (Boise), Jacob Van Ryn (NECC), Sari Kitelyn (Full Sail), Danielle Rourke, CDW

Sari Kitelyn, Director of Esports at Full Sail University, posted on LinkedIn: “We connected on the Collegiate Esports Industry and what we can put in place now to enhance sustainability for both our individual programs and the industry at large.” She added, “At the Girl Gaming Expo, [described below] sitting in a room surrounded by hundreds of young girls, passionate about gaming, asking questions and connecting with each other - it was the pinnacle moment of the week for me.” 

Developing Esports Players, Coaches, and Referees: Competitive gaming is about more than just the players. Experts discussed strategies for developing the next generation of not just esports athletes, but coaches and referees as well, and the importance of creating a supportive ecosystem for everyone involved. Speakers: Carolyn Navarro (NASEF/USEF.GG), Bethany Pyles (NASEF/USEF.GG) & Chris "Doc" Haskell (Boise) & Kaitlin Teniente (St. Mary's) 

Pathways to Becoming an Esports Pro Player: Dreaming of going pro, or coaching a student with that goal? This session outlined pathways for gamers aiming to make it to the professional level, from amateur play to pro-am events. It also covered the importance of balancing practice with personal development. Speakers: Julian Castro (Ghost Gaming),  Marco Mereu (M80), Rob Stamey (G2,), Titus Walker (UEL), Moderator: Bethany Pyles (USEF.GG)

Funding, Grants, and Partnerships: Real-life examples were the key in this session. A variety of leaders shared how their esports programs found funding, secured grants, and built partnerships to support their scholastic esports initiatives. Speakers: Dustin Pyles (Vaza Grant Consulting), PK Graff (NASEF Community / Ghost Gaming / Forsyth County Schools), Tiffani Bryant, Julius Edwards & John Shoemaker (NASEF Community), Christie Garton, (1000 Dreams), Claire LaBeaux (NASEF)

Creating Compelling Content in Esports: It’s not just about playing the game—building an audience is key! Expert content creators shared their tips for creating compelling esports content, from live streaming and shoutcasting to social media strategy and branding. Speakers: Ansley Partosa (NASEF/USEF.GG), Ginger Tontaveetong (ASIFAC), Erik Leitner (Cleverlike), Malcolm Coley (FFG), Ducky (Ghost)

Statewide Workforce Development Pathways: States are increasingly creating pathways to connect students with careers in the gaming industry, from game design to IT support to event management. Speakers shared their examples of building programs to help youth open doors for a wide variety of job opportunities. Speakers: Kevin Brown (NASEF), Pasha Maher (Stiegler EdTech), Tariq Bokhari (Stiegler EdTech), Scott Votaw (Georgia Film Academy), John Shoemaker (NASEF Community / Palm Beach County School District)

Adaptive & Accessible Gaming: Gaming creates a strong community with benefits for all participants. This session focused on making esports more accessible, from adaptive technology to inclusive game design and more. Speakers: Jihan Johnston (NASEF/GHOST), Cougar Clifford (Nerve Gaming), Jared Grier, Rachel Scarboro

Lioness Girl Gaming Expo: The Lioness Girl Gaming Expo was the pinnacle event connected to Esports Summit. This special event empowered girls and young women in the world of esports. The Lioness Expo offers panels, competitions, and networking opportunities designed to showcase female talent in gaming and provide resources for girls looking to enter or grow in the esports industry. The excitement among students attending was rivaled by the women who shared their career pathways and inspired all to strive for their dreams. The Lioness event truly fostered a supportive community for the next generation of female gamers.

Danielle Rourke, Technology & Innovation Strategist at CDW, posted on LinkedIn: “CDW and the amazing partners at Lenovo had the privilege to participate in one of the best gatherings of gamers and esports professionals in the world at Skillshot Media in Atlanta. Esports Summit and Lioness Girl Gaming Expo were incredible and reminded me why we love this industry.” 

Malcolm Coley, Futures First Gaming, said, “Esports Summit was amazing to say the least, absolutely loved being there and celebrating all the great folks that are in esports.

I loved the Girls empowerment event and having all the kids there from the surrounding schools, I felt like that was a major highlight of the experience.”

Reflections on the Impact of Esports Summit

Tomoyaki Hatayama reflected on his experience attending the Esports Summit from Japan: “I visited the U.S. for the first time last year and had the opportunity to witness esports education firsthand at Amelia Atlanta. I was genuinely amazed by the level of expertise and understanding among the schools and teachers. In Japan, esports is still largely seen as just a game, with a common belief that games are for entertainment and should not take precedence over academics. However, I strongly feel that games can also serve as valuable educational tools for children in the future.

“I am not only thrilled to have been selected as a U.S. Fellow of NASEF this year, but I also feel that I have made friends from around the world. My goal is to work to continue to transform Japanese education, making it into something even better by drawing from a global perspective.”

John Phillips, Technology & Innovation Consultant at Berrien RESA, said: “Inevitably, the NASEF Esports Summit is the most beneficial conference that I attend each year. Getting to hear from other leaders around the world is an invaluable opportunity for me to bring new ideas back to Michigan. Additionally, the partnership with Dreamhack allows educators to not only experience what is happening in other schools, but also to experience what is trending in industry and facilitates making connections that can impact students!” 

As you can see, the Esports Summit is more than just a conference—it’s a gathering of the minds that are shaping the future of esports. With topics ranging from grassroots initiatives in elementary schools to professional player development, this event is designed to inspire, inform, and connect individuals at every level of the esports ecosystem. Whether you’re looking to start an esports program at your school or district, develop your career in gaming, or just understand more about this booming industry, the Esports Summit has something for you.

Stay tuned to NASEF’s social media channels and the Scholastic Esports SmartBrief newsletter for announcements regarding the next Esports Summit. Don’t miss your opportunity to learn, network, and be a part of the rapidly growing world of scholastic esports!