North America Scholastic Esports Federation program grows with selection of top educators to build programs and mentor others

(Orange County, Calif. – November 9, 2021) – The North America Scholastic Esports Federation (NASEF) has chosen a diverse group of 50 Scholastic Fellows, Mentors, and Community Leaders from 14 countries for the 2021-2022 cohort. In the competitive process to identify these elite educators, more than 100 applications were received from 20+ countries.

The Scholastic Fellow Program provides a professional learning community, mentorship, tools, resources and instructional coaching for educators interested in connecting esports and learning in schools and out-of-school time / community-based organizations across the globe. The program provides ongoing support and opportunity to educators in order to benefit students around the world.

Scholastic Fellows who complete their year of fellowship have the opportunity to move on to become a Scholastic Mentor, building on their leadership by supporting other educators in the community. They earn a unique "Esports Scholastic Mentorship" certificate and Continuing Education Units (CEUs) from NASEF’s university partners. All of the Fellows who complete this pathway are certified "Community Leaders" who become the official NASEF Trainers-of-trainers. They will support the continued capacity building of educators and communities around the world. 

“When we originally launched this community in 2019 with our inaugural cohort, we were excited about the myriad of possibilities around how we could support educators in discovering exciting opportunities through scholastic esports,” said Jorrel Batac, NASEF’s esports scholastic instructional coach and the director of the program. “Entering our third consecutive year in 2021 with a global cohort across 14 countries, the conversation has now evolved to how we can collaborate together to provide a unique platform for both students and educators to engage in building international relationships and connections through their passion for gaming and esports.”

Gerald Solomon, founder and executive director of NASEF, is also the Chair of the World Esports Education Commission managed by the International Esports Federation (IESF). Solomon said, “With scholastic esports continuing to expand globally, we have cultivated a unique professional development pathway that allows educators around the world to engage in a shared learning environment to grow their skills, leadership and network in this innovative space.”

Scholastic Fellows for 2021-2022 are:

• Aidar Abdullin - Kuwait City, Kuwait
• Marta Anderson - Albuquerque, New Mexico
• Nevine Asfour - Alexandria, Egypt
• Sanjay Kumar Bhagat - Uttar Pradesh, India
• Melissa Burns - Niverville, Manitoba, Canada
• Admire Chabvepi - Gauteng, South Africa
• Samha Choi - Seoul, South Korea
• PK Graff - Cumming, Georgia
• Laurenjoy Graves - Olathe, Kansas
• Andy Gribbin - Erie, Pennsylvania
• Amy Harris - Mexico, Missouri
• Chuck Hobbs - Irvine, California
• Giselle Jaimes - Cuautitlán Izcalli, Mexico
• Erica Larson Bautze - Leipzig, Germany
• Emma Liston - Denny, Scotland
• Felicia Martin Latief - Lanham, Maryland
• Roxann Martinez - McAllen, Texas
• James (Jim) McKowen - Hackettstown, New Jersey
• Adrieanne Moliere - Baton Rouge, Louisiana
• Pamela Moreno-Paes - Middletown, New York
• Shoubna Naika-Taylor - Coventry, United Kingdom
• Kalam Neale - Barnsley, United Kingdom
• Happyson Nyamudeza - Taung, South Africa
• Mary Phillips - Watervliet, Michigan
• Daniel Rolo - Pain Court, Ontario, Canada
• Yoshiaki Tsuboyama - Tokyo, Japan
• Ignacio Vargas - San Jose, Costa Rica
• Megan Wallace - Wynnum, Queensland, Australia
• Audra Yocom - Pleasant Grove, Utah

Scholastic Mentors for 2021-2022 are:

• David Amaro - Metepec, Mexico
• Mary Atherton - Northallerton, United Kingdom
• James Fraser-Murison - Camberley, United Kingdom
• Alexander Gibson - York, Pennsylvania
• Bradford Harris - Spring, Texas
• Garikai Kajau - Vereeniging, South Africa
• Lindy Meiser - Denison, Texas
• Laura Rubi Meneses Adams - Tula de Ayende, Mexico
• Nick Rider - Carey, Ohio
• Regina Schaffer - Freehold Township, New Jersey
• John Shoemaker - West Palm Beach, Florida
• Travis Whitt - Racine, Wisconsin
• Taylor Yazel - Irvine, California

The following individuals have been named NASEF community leaders:

• Chris Aviles - Fair Haven, New Jersey
• Shayla Baldwin - Las Vegas, Nevada
• Ryan Friederich - Forest City, Iowa
• Angelique Gianas - La Mesa, California
• Ivet Gonzalez - Santa Ana, California
• Tyler Hahn - Cherokee, Iowa
• J. D. Williams - Laveen, Arizona
• James Wood - Chico, California

All these individuals are helping to broaden and deepen the use of esports for meaningful education on career and life skills. The Community Leaders are available to provide professional development, curriculum design, and other support services for educational communities. For more information on applying to the program in the future or collaborating with these leaders now, contact [email protected].

 About NASEF

The North America Scholastic Esports Federation (NASEF) is on a mission to provide opportunities for all students to use esports as a platform to acquire STEM/STEAM-based skills and critical communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills needed to thrive in work and in life. NASEF operates under the umbrella of the World Wide Scholastic Esports Foundation (WWSEF). Find NASEF at NASEF.org and on Twitch, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram

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Media Contact:
Claire LaBeaux
[email protected]
925-337-0244