Centralia High School Brings eSports to Rural Kansas In a small school, most students gravitate toward traditional extracurricular activities such as sports, Cheer, FFA, FBLA, Dance and FCCLA. These students are often engaged in multiple activities throughout each season, and the environment is rich in leadership and team-oriented activities. Yet Centralia High School is still looking to pioneer a new kind of team—one that meets students where they are, which is online. A New Platform for Student Connection With the launch of its eSports program, Mr. Steffen Shearer, Science Teacher at Frankfort and Centralia, has been leading the way to create a space where gamers could take pride in forming their own team at Centralia. “Every kid needs something to feel good about that’s bigger than them,” said Principal Wade Talley, who has taken on coaching responsibilities when Mr. Shearer is unavailable. “They need a platform to learn accountability, responsibility, and teamwork.” The school’s eSports journey began with a handful of students and a few gaming stations. Competing in titles like League of Legends and Super Smash Bros., the team gathered twice a week—one day for training and one for matches. While the program is still in its early stages, Talley is hopeful it will offer students a chance to gather, interact, and compete with peers who share similar interests, especially those not drawn to traditional activities. Inclusion Through Innovation Centralia’s eSports initiative is about more than gaming—it’s about belonging. For students who feel disconnected from conventional school activities, eSports offers a new way to engage and grow. “We just keep trying. We keep showing up,” Talley said. “We continue to look for opportunities to reach kids.” Fiber Broadband Makes It Possible Thanks to a robust fiber connection already in place and sponsorship support from BVT, Centralia now has the technical infrastructure needed to support competitive gaming. BVT helped launch the program by sponsoring gaming computers and other team needs. “We couldn’t compete without this connection,” Talley noted. “The technology is good. We had zero issues last year.” Looking Ahead “Whether we like video games or not isn’t the debate,” Talley said. “It’s about showing up, being accountable, and being part of a team. We weren’t created to be alone. If you’re sitting together in a classroom as a team, you become part of something greater than yourself.”
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