Rancocas Valley Education Foundation Donates $1,500 to Esports Club

Mount Holly, N.J. – One of Rancocas Valley Regional High School’s (RVRHS) newest clubs, Esports, has received a sizeable donation from the Rancocas Valley Education Foundation (RVEF), which will prompt the transition from a virtual to an on-campus club. The RVEF recently presented a check for $1,500 to Esports club members at a Board of Education meeting.

RV’s Esports advisor and school counselor, Doug Shunk, said housing the club on campus is important given one goal of forming such a student group is to increase socialization and connections among members.

“This club targets a population of students who might not have had a connection with schools or clubs otherwise,” Shunk said. “A student who maybe just went home and jumped on a video game now has a community of students who share the same interest and has the support of the school.”

He added how navigating group dynamics and playing and strategizing as a team aid the student in the long term. "You end up using a lot of that teamwork and collaboration at the college level. I think the more community-based approach has more of an impact on the individual emotionally. Gone are the days when parents just think the kids are wasting time and energy on video games. Now they’re looking at it more as training.”

RVEF President Mark Miller said the Alumni Foundation donation will help Esports members get the most out of their participation. “We want to provide the most cutting-edge experience for our students and help them grow in the gaming community,” Miller added.

The funds afforded by RVEF will provide Nintendo Switches, high-tech headsets and proper training for all club members to compete at the school, together.

“Our club currently competes virtually and communicates via Discord from the comfort of members’ own homes,” said Shunk. “Our goal is to be able to have students compete right on RV’s campus. Currently, students are utilizing their own gaming systems, which are considered personal devices and not allowed to be connected to the school’s network per policy.”

RVRHS’s competitive Esports club began almost 10 years ago as Smash Club, a small group of students who would play Super Smash Brothers together. Shunk says this was the “foundation” for the club’s beginnings. “When they were just a Smash Club, it was just a few friends,” he said. “It’s amazing to see how they’ve marketed the program; it seems like every day we get a new student interested. We even have our own e-board now. The kids are taking great leaderships roles, and it’s amazing to see their growth as young adults.”

The current Esports club was formed last year, under Shunk’s direction, with the monthly on-campus meetings gaining a steady increase in participation. Students gather to discuss upcoming matches, strategy and practice.

RV's Esports members currently compete within the Garden State Esports League. There are more than 80 school districts in New Jersey with competitive Esports teams. Students across the country also participate in Esports events at collegiate and professional levels. Numerous colleges and universities even offer dual credit degrees and programs in the field.

“It’s an exciting time here at RV,” said Superintendent Christopher Heilig, Ed.D. “Being able to get our students onto campus and providing them with the resources they need to succeed, as well as a central location to collaborate and apply these new skills – it's why we’re all here. We understand the value in keeping up with trends and current workforce needs. These are only the beginning steps for what RV can accomplish in Esports.”

Esports athletes must follow the same guidelines as other more traditional sports to be eligible to participate, such as maintaining good grades, behavior and attendance. “It’s an opportunity, rather than a right to participate,” added Shunk.

The RVEF makes donations on a rolling basis for any activity that supports and enhances the quality of the educational opportunities for every student at RVRHS. Donation requests are brought to the Foundation by RVRHS leadership and reviewed by the Foundation’s Board of Directors. The Foundation’s funding comes from generous donations from businesses and local families and from fundraising events. If anyone is interested in donating to the Foundation, additional information can be found on the Foundation’s website www.rvedfoundation.org.