Tri-County Community Foundation Alliance Funds Full-Scale Expansion of Elementary Esports Across Mason, Lake, and Oceana Counties
The MiSTEM Network Region 9, in partnership with the West Shore ESD, is thrilled to announce a major regional expansion of its Elementary Esports program, bringing the highly successful pilot initiative to full scale across all public schools in Mason, Lake, and Oceana counties.
This expansion of Esports makes available another worthwhile program for upper elementary students and is made possible by the generous support from three local community foundations.
In recognizing the success of Esports in connecting non-traditional student groups with critical STEM concepts and team-building, the Community Foundations stepped in to provide dedicated, county-by-county financial support for upper elementary students.
The regional funding package includes:
• Oceana County: $4,920 awarded via the Community Investment Fund, supported by an Anonymous Donor - Oceana Elementary Esports.
• Lake County: $1,240 awarded by the Lake County Community Foundation to scale Lake County Elementary Esports.
• Mason County: $1,000 awarded by the Community Foundation for Mason County’s Youth Advisory Council (YAC) for Mason County Elementary Esports.
Esports is more than gaming: It's a proven bridge to STEM and social-emotional growth
Originally launched as a pilot program, the Elementary Esports program utilizes a unique curriculum—such as the community-designed "Gamers, Makers, Leaders" framework—to leverage children's natural interest in video games as a launchpad for future-focused learning. Rather than solitary gameplay, students operate in a structured, team-based environment that directly mirrors collegiate and professional scholastic esports.
Recent local data underscores the profound impact the initiative has already had on students. According to the 2025/2026 MiSTEM Esports Survey Reports compiled by Everett Evaluation Research & Consulting, the program has proven to be an equitable, highly inclusive environment that drastically enhances a student's school experience:
• Elevated School Connection: Educators and parents noted meaningful, lasting improvements in students' overall classroom engagement and sense of belonging at school.
• STEM Identity Development: Multiple parents noted a strong turnaround in their child’s attitude toward science and math, with one reporting, "My child has shown a greater interest in STEM/STEAM subjects since taking Esports. She wasn't too keen on STEAM at school and doesn't complain about it anymore."
• Crucial Social-Emotional Skills: The evaluation revealed distinct positive shifts in teamwork, communication, and emotional self-regulation, teaching young gamers how to handle conflict, and collaboration effectively.
Our region now has a unified vision for Esports
By standardizing and scaling Esports to elementary schools across all three counties in the West Shore ESD region, the support of the three Community Foundation ensures that geographic and financial barriers do not stop upper elementary students from early exposure to the digital literacy skills required in today's workforce.
"The expansion of Elementary Esports represents a beautiful alignment between community philanthropy and educational innovation," said Brian Dotson, MiSTEM Region 9 Director. "We are deeply grateful to the Community Foundation for Mason County, the Lake County Community Foundation, and the Oceana Community Foundation. Our students will have yet one more way in school to learn teamwork, gain confidence, and discover a passion for technology and STEM careers."
With funding secured, public schools across Mason, Lake, and Oceana counties will begin integrating the standardized scholastic esports infrastructure and curriculum in the 2026-27 school year.
For more information on the Elementary Esports program or to learn how to support local STEM education initiatives, please contact MiSTEM Region 9 Director, Brian Dotson at briandotson@wsesd.org.
Poster created by Ludington Esports upper elementary students
About MiSTEM Network Region 9:
The MiSTEM Network works to look at vibrant STEM ecosystems across the state of Michigan. Region 9, partnered with the West Shore ESD is dedicated to connecting education, business, and community partners to empower students with the critical thinking, technology, and problem-solving skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing global economy.