Kensington Woods Schools has one of the first high school “esports” teams in the state, and on Tuesday, they got to show off their stuff at the State Capitol.
One of the most popular new competitions at STEM-focused high schools and colleges across the country, esports is competitive video gaming, in which teams of students compete online against competitors from other schools, using strategy, smarts and fast reflexes.
Under the direction of teacher and coach Tom Wagner, Kensington Woods started its esports program earlier this year as it became one of the first teams in the state. The team has taken part in several competitions already, with another one coming up this weekend. And the students are loving it.
On Tuesday, the Kensington Woods team took its computers to Lansing as part of “Charter Day at the Capitol,” a huge event that brought hundreds of charter school parents, educators, students and supporters from across Michigan to the lawn of the State Capitol.
The KWoods team was one of five charter schools from across the state that were spotlighted at the event. The students set up their computers, and in the shadow of the Capitol dome, they competed against each other as the crowd looked on. Several legislators also stopped by to see the Kensington Woods team in action.
Wagner said it was a thrill for the team members to be able to strut their stuff in Lansing – and several people from other schools across the state asked for guidance on starting their own esports teams.
Kensington Woods Schools is a grades 6-12 public charter school in Pinckney. For more information on the school and its acclaimed STEM and arts program, visit kwoods.org.
