Mount Vernon High School unveils new esports room

Students booteed up their computers and loaded their games in the new esports room during the grand opening ceremony on Thursday, February 13, 2025, preparing for the inaugural season for the Mount Vernon High School Esports Club.

The room is complete with 12 monitors and screens, as well as gaming chairs and couches for gamers to sit comfortably while playing. Principal Dr. Pauline Pearce shared her appreciation for those who made the room possible during the ceremony. She also shared words of encouragement to students who are a part of the new club.

“I want to thank the students in the room. You are the pioneers and you are setting the pace for all the other students to come,” said Dr. Pearce. “Here is your space; I hope you treat the space with respect. Of course, there are standards to use the space, and we expect you to model those standards. The room is yours – have fun!”

For this year, the team will focus on building their repertoire and crafting their skills before they start competing with other schools in the area. They are currently recruiting students and seeing which games students are drawn to the most. A couple of games students can choose from are Fortnite, League of Legends and Marvel Rivals.

“It’s been pretty cool…” said McKale Green, a senior at MVHS about the esports room and club. “It’s going to be a great opportunity, especially since we already have an esports team at STEAM. We can have more of a widespread, collaborative gaming community at MVHS.”

A requirement to be a part of the team is to maintain grades and attendance in class. Club Advisor Mark Murray ensures that all students put their academics first before extracurricular activities. This helps students work on their time management and prioritizing skills.