Exclusive Partnership Aims to Foster the Future Generation of Gamers in Texas
High schools and middle schools across the state are about to get a Texas-sized dose of esports. Texas-based esports and entertainment company, Envy Gaming, is launching a partnership with Generation Esports, the founder and operator of the popular High School Esports League (HSEL) and Middle School Esports League (MSEL) programs. Envy will integrate its professional esports players, coaches, and content creators into HSEL and MSEL curricula, as well as help market and increase participation in HSEL and MSEL gaming tournaments to schools and students throughout Texas.
Since 2020, Generation Esports has been the exclusive esports sponsor of the University Interscholastic League (UIL) in Texas. While the UIL does not yet sanction esports as a varsity competition, the partnership with Generation Esports and engagement of esports powerhouses like Envy Gaming are helping to provide more data on student participation and interest in gaming to state officials.
“We want to champion the future generation of gamers in Texas,” said Adam Rymer, CEO at Envy Gaming. “What attracted us to Generation Esports was the opportunity to create the best entry point and pipeline for young people to pursue their passions and get firsthand exposure to career paths in tech and esports.”
Generation Esports, which operates programs at more than 300 Texas schools and in 3,400 schools across the U.S. and globally, intends to dramatically scale up its offerings in Texas. The company recently raised $10.8 million in its Series A for expansion. Generation Esports’ HSEL is the largest and longest-running competitive gaming organization for high school students in the United States.
“There are more than 42 million gamers under the age of 18 in North America, compared to only 7 million traditional student athletes. Gaming is part of everyday culture for students and is an equalizer today. The jocks, the nerds, it doesn’t matter – they all play games,” said Mason Mullenioux, CEO of Generation Esports. “Our programs help empower healthy competition with inclusivity and respect.”
2,845,243 students were enrolled in grades 6-12 at Texas schools in the most recent academic year, according to the Texas Education Agency. Students participating in HSEL and MSEL compete against fellow esports players and teams from schools around the U.S. in online tournaments. HSEL also offers a Gaming Concepts curriculum, which includes college and career readiness training programs through the lens of gaming and esports. The curriculum is STEM.org accredited, meaning schools can apply for grants and funding to cover the costs of offering HSEL programs.
Envy Gaming and Generation Esports plan to expand the curriculum, creating opportunities for Texas students to interact with and learn from professional esports players and coaches, content creators and influencers in Envy’s network, and front office staff at Envy through digital and virtual events.
Generation Esports also works together closely with the Varsity Esports Foundation that, along with the recently announced 501(c)(3) Envy Foundation, will provide grants and gaming hardware to schools throughout Texas to launch or grow their esports programs.
“We believe in the positive influence gaming and esports can have on the life of a student,” said Rymer.
Envy Gaming, which owns and operates popular franchise teams the Dallas Fuel in the Overwatch League and the world champion Dallas Empire in the Call of Duty League, also plans to bring HSEL and MSEL competitions to fan festivals built around Envy’s live events, once a return to live esports events is deemed safe for participants.
Envy, which recently announced a $40 million Series C investment round, was named the exclusive Professional Esports Partner of HSEL and MSEL in Texas under terms of the deal.
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