This March, the US Academic Esports League (USAEL) brought the power of academic esports to life at the Spring CUE 2025 Conference in Palm Springs. With the help of several partners, the USAEL powered the Esports Experience - an unforgettable, hands-on showcase of the academic benefits of video games in Spring CUE’s STEM Zone. Alongside Insight, iBuyPower, and Mastery Coding, the USAEL team transformed a large part of the exhibit hall into a high-energy exploration of how esports can elevate learning and career readiness in K–12 classrooms.
With over 4,000 educators gathered at Spring CUE—a conference devoted to “enhancing student success through technology”—the Esports Experience was the perfect platform to spotlight the educational potential of gaming. Attendees, ranging from educators new to esports to experienced tech leaders aiming to expand their programs, played student-built projects, tackled exciting challenges, and explored classroom-ready gaming setups created to meet students where they are.
At the heart of the experience was the Academic Esports Scavenger Hunt. More than two hundred educators completed a series of exciting challenges across the Esports Experience and the expo hall to enter a raffle for over $7,500 in prizes. Some of the crowd-favorite challenges included:
In partnership with Insight, the Esports Experience featured fully equipped model esports classroom setups for elementary, middle, and high school levels. These setups gave educators a firsthand look at how to design age-appropriate esports environments using the right mix of hardware and curriculum. From casual gaming stations using Nintendo Switches to competitive team setups with gaming PCs, custom chairs, and desks, Insight’s solutions made it clear how accessible and scalable academic esports can be.
Attendees also enjoyed a round of Academic Esports Jeopardy, where contestants competed to test their esports knowledge—adding a spirited, competitive twist to the learning experience. It was a big hit and reinforced the value of blending fun and learning to capture student engagement.
And of course, the final raffle drawing brought down the house. Educators crowded around the STEM Zone, cheering as winners were announced for top-tier prizes including:
The Esports Experience wasn’t just a showcase—it was a launchpad. By giving educators a tactile, immersive way to explore academic esports, USAEL and Insight helped plant the seeds for new programs across the country.
Want to bring this kind of energy and educational value to your students?
With expert support from USAEL, Insight, and curriculum developers like Mastery Coding, it’s never been easier to turn student passion into pathways for career and college readiness.
.jpg)