Compton Unified Esports Program Earns 2023 Golden Bell Award
Media Release
Compton Unified School District earned a 2023 Golden Bell Award for its Compton Unified Esports League (CUEL) Initiative “From Games to Career.” Awarded by the California School Boards Association (CSBA), the Golden Bell Awards reflect the depth and breadth of education programs and governance decisions supporting these programs that are necessary to address students’ changing needs.
The vision of Compton Unified Esports League is to provide Compton Unified scholars equitable access to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) education and reinforce skills such as collaboration, digital literacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving.
Research shows a lack of diversity in STEAM-related careers and Compton Unified harnessed the engagement of esports to boost inclusion, and to ensure that proportional numbers of underrepresented populations (Black, Latino, and female) are college- and career-ready for STEAM fields.The CUEL program’s approach to esports is unique in that it builds in mentors through university partners, teaches students about computer programming, and exposes students to various career opportunities within the $300 billion video game industry.
Compton Unified Esports League is in its fifth year of implementation and is growing exponentially. In 2019 the program kicked off with a high school esports tournament. Currently, CUEL serves all four high schools, six traditional middle schools, and ten K-8 schools, reaching more than 1000 students. The CUEL strategic partnership with The Carrot Group provides a district-run tournament in which schools within the district compete in tournaments and engage in workforce development through learning sessions with leading game design companies. Coaches from each school site meet with students after school for game days and practices.
"As Superintendent and on behalf of the Board of Trustees of the Compton Unified School District, I can attest that the impact of our esports program has been far reaching,” said Superintendent Dr. Darin Brawley. “Not only have doors of opportunity been open for students to enter into careers in a billion-dollar sector, they have done so while cultivating transferable skills and doing something they enjoy. This is equity: closing not only the achievement gap, but the opportunity gap as well."
The CSBA Golden Bell Awards are now in their 43rd year. This year, 205 entries in 21 categories were received. Experts from school districts and county offices of education comprised the 49-member judging panel, and a total of 51 delegates and board members across the state conducted in person or virtual validations.
The Golden Bell Awards Reception and Ceremony will take place on Thursday, November 30, 2023 at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square.