From Spark to Ecosystem: How Esports is Transforming Opportunity for Students in Louisiana
- Jeffery Harrison
- Aug 29
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 3
The Problem: A Missed Opportunity
You’re a gamer, right? You want to compete, to show off your skills. But maybe your school doesn’t have an esports program. You try to start something, but the response is always the same: “It’s just gaming. It’s a waste of time.”
Or maybe there’s interest—until the IT department steps in: “Too risky. We’re not opening any ports. We’re not even going to look into it.”
Other times, you’ve got kids gathering at libraries, STEM labs, or community centers who just want to play. But they’re told no, because they’re not on a school team. And for younger students, most leagues don’t even start until age 13.
These are all missed opportunities. Opportunities for students to belong.
The Mission: Belonging Through Esports
From the very beginning, our mission has been clear: give all students a place to belong through esports.
It wasn’t easy at first—limited staff, limited resources. But as our ambassador program grew, so did the impact. I’ve watched shy kids find their voice. I’ve seen students with special needs welcomed and celebrated. That’s what I call Esports Magic.
Because here’s the truth: the hook is gaming. But the magic happens when it grows beyond gaming.
Beyond Gaming: The Magic in Action
It starts with small questions from students: “How do you broadcast?” “How does the audio system work?” “Can I help?”
And suddenly, “helping” becomes learning.
What began with a handful of kids running a Smash Bros. tournament grew into student-led productions—video, audio, marketing, broadcasting, tournament management—even a student government to help guide the future of our league.
We didn’t stop there. Students built arcade machines. They launched an esports show that went beyond gaming. We organized tours of cybersecurity firms, 3D printing companies, and yes—even a coffee plant. Along the way, we connected them with college coaches and crowned champions.
The spark of gaming turned into a pipeline of discovery!
The Framework: USAEL
But we had to ask ourselves: how do we make this sustainable? How do we give every student in Louisiana access to the same magic?
That’s where the United States Academic Esports League (USAEL) comes in.
Their mission aligns perfectly with ours. Like us, they believe esports leads to opportunity. They don’t just run competitions—they build pathways from passion to profession.
Where our students took on production and broadcasting, USAEL built a curriculum to teach those skills alongside competition.
Where we fostered belonging, USAEL created structured, safe, age-appropriate leagues so no student is left out.
We were building the heart. USAEL brought the framework. Together, students don’t just belong—they gain a reason to engage and a path forward.
The Ecosystem: ESTA
And then we looked beyond schools. How do we raise the ceiling higher, connecting education to industry?
That’s where the Esports Trade Association (ESTA) enters the story.
ESTA brings together leaders across the esports industry to advance growth ethically and sustainably. Where we built belonging, ESTA builds the ecosystem. They provide support networks, professional development, and industry partnerships that help esports thrive not just in classrooms, but across communities and businesses.
With ESTA, our grassroots work in Louisiana becomes part of a national movement—connecting students, schools, and industry into one shared ecosystem.
The Future: Spark → Purpose → Ecosystem
This is where it all comes together.
LASEF is the spark—igniting belonging and creativity through esports.
USAEL provides the purpose—curriculum, structure, and career readiness.
ESTA builds the ecosystem—connecting education to the professional world.
The path forward is clear: games are the hook, schools are the foundation, and industry is the engine that carries this forward.
This isn’t just about creating belonging in one school, one parish, or even one state. It’s about giving every student access to the full spectrum—from belonging today to opportunity tomorrow.
Because when LASEF, USAEL, and ESTA align, you don’t just change lives… you transform a generation.
Jeffery Harrison - Executive Director for LASEF - Director of Network Operations EBR Schools
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