CLEVELAND – The Cleveland State University Esports program closed out the year by welcoming a new group of prospective students to the lab. Back in December, Hawken High School’s "Sports & Justice" class visited campus to get a behind-the-scenes look at how a collegiate esports program operates.

The visiting group, comprised of 9th and 10th graders, spent time mixing with CSU Varsity players. The session included friendly gameplay, but also provided valuable strategic insight. The high schoolers learned specifically which game titles they should focus on if they aim to participate in major collegiate esports programs in the future.

The visit extended beyond the digital arena to highlight the academic side of the industry. The students took a tour of the Engineering building and attended a special session with Jim Kahler, a professor in CSU’s Sports Management department. Kahler shared his expertise, helping connect the students' classwork in "Sports & Justice" with real-world applications in university athletics and management.

The program was thrilled to host the next generation of competitors and industry professionals.