News

Dorchester School District Two Celebrates Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for eSports Competition Lab

Published

12 months ago

October 28, 2023

Press Release

Dorchester School District Two students, teachers, and administrators celebrated the opening of the eSports Competition Lab at Summerville High School on October 28th.

DDTwo’s Career and Technology Education department has launched the first eSports academic program locally in the Lowcountry. Summerville is the first DDTwo high school to open a lab, and Ashley Ridge High School and Fort Dorchester High School will follow. The labs develop students’ digital expertise through structured learning around gaming, competing, announcing, recording, and producing.

DDTwo eSports students will have an advantage headed into their next chapter after graduation. With the global video game industry’s revenue reaching $160 billion, colleges are awarding millions in eSports scholarships to develop the next generation of eSports leaders.

The range of professions includes roles in intelligence operations, game development, help desks, network administration, and cyber forensics.

Led by Coach David Griggs, the Green Wave eSports and Gaming Club has made significant strides in less than a year of competition. Students’ responsibilities reflect the scope of eSports, including competition, analysis and leadership, video production, streaming, marketing, graphic design, and social media.

“We have all sorts of students. We find a safe space where they interact with each other and learn how to grow and play together — all the soft skills that employers are always talking about wanting — that’s what we provide,” said Coach Griggs.

Club President Sabrina Dagley said, “I’ve been involved in STEM since middle school, and I’ve been really happy to see it grow since I’ve been moving through. I think it’s exciting, especially with our new eSports program, that girls can get more involved in things they’re interested in.”

Executive Director of Student Programs Dr. Greg Harrison said, “Adding eSports to our high-quality academics is an ideal opportunity. We’re preparing students for lucrative careers and engaging them through their passion for interactive technology.”