Editor’s Note: Story was updated to add additional photos with captions.
Sounds of hammering thumbs on controllers ring out in Juan Duran’s room as gamers walk in the door. On the screen, is “Mario Tennis” played on an old-school Nintendo 64. As long as the students paid, they had a chance to go against Duran for the first esports fundraiser for the year.
The fundraiser concluded on Jan. 19 and the club raised a total of $171.25 with 18 unique participants, and 39 purchases of game sets.
“This is our most successful fundraiser we’ve had in several years,” Duran said. “I am very proud of my students for organizing such an event.”
The winners were chosen through a raffle drawing and received a $50 gift card of their choice. They were senior Noemi Campuzano and juniors Jasmine Mai and Rosalinda Hernandez.
“I got the Nintendo $50 gift card,” Hernandez said. “I was surprised because I didn’t think I’d win. I barely started playing on the very last day of the fundraiser but I did get 23 tickets in one go so that gave me a huge advantage.”
The fundraiser lets students support the club as well as getting some insight on what esports is all about while having a good time. The esports community worked hard to advertise and some members even partaken in the event dueling the sponsor.
“It was pretty fun since I am a fan of the Mario games and getting a chance to go against [Duran] even after I heard that he’s apparently unbeaten,” freshman Jonathan Lopez said. “I was excited, I was like, ‘someone I could have a challenge against.’”
The club is completely self-funded and students have to pay to join some competitions, which can be limiting. Sufficient funds would increase student participation in various matches, and also allow them to also look forward to getting new lab equipment, member t-shirts, and growing their club population.
“For the club, we want to get more acknowledgment out there,” club president senior Reymundo Ramos said. “I think the club could be a lot more than what it is now; we could really hit the big leagues on the esports community and make an impact.”
After a successful fundraiser, members feel thrilled as their morale heightens as they advance their club to the next level.
“There is a new energy in the club right now where the officers and members all seem very excited for the upcoming season and feel that they can accomplish anything they set their minds to,” Duran said. “I am happy to see them so motivated.”
