For years, many parents have worried about how much time their children spend playing video games.
But a Corpus Christi nonprofit is working to change that perception — turning gaming into a tool for personal growth, community and even college scholarships.
RELATED: Coastal Bend homeschoolers make esports history at state championships
The Esports, Development, Growth and Education Foundation, or EDGE, was founded by a group of local mothers to give middle and high school students a structured place to compete, connect and build life skills.
Inside a local collectibles shop, more than 20 student-athletes train twice a week — not with weights or running sprints, but with controllers and keyboards.
EDGE head coach – and mom – Rachel Lebowitz said the program helps students grow far beyond the screen.
“Students come to our program very shy, introverted and not sure of themselves, and within a very quick period they’re confident,” Lebowitz said. “They’re making friends, and they have a social group. They have a place where they can belong.”
The program also offers competition at a high level. Esports is now recognized by the University Interscholastic League, with EDGE players competing for state titles. About half the team has already qualified for the state tournament scheduled for April 30 to May 2.
Lebowitz said the benefits extend well beyond competition.
“They come away knowing that they can do hard things, that they are capable human beings, and then they can transfer those skills to school, work or employment or college,” she said.
Those skills are increasingly drawing attention from colleges across the country, which are building esports programs and recruiting players.
For 17-year-old Athena Strother, what started as a way to make friends has turned into a scholarship opportunity.
The homeschooled student will soon attend Texas A&M University-Kingsville as part of its esports program, a path she hadn’t originally planned.
“The coach persuaded me because originally I was going to just go straight into piloting,” Strother, whose father is a pilot, said. “But I was like, I want to do esports, and I might find something in my life even better in the esports community than piloting.”
She said the transition will also bring new experiences, including attending a traditional school environment for the first time.
“It’s going to be a new experience for me because I’ve never gone to public school before, but everyone in Kingsville is really nice,” she said.
Currently, 11 EDGE players are competing in the playoffs and will travel to Baylor University for the state championships.
She emphasized that no prior experience — or payment — is required for students to join. For more information, you can visit the nonprofit’s Facebook page.