At 3 p.m. on Friday, February 28th, when the school bell typically signals dismissal time, the Meridian Technical Charter high school students didn’t head towards their after-school commitments or rush back home for the weekend. Instead, they put on headphones and picked up wireless controllers. This marked only the start of their day.
More than 100 students from the high school located on Locust Grove Road decided to spend their day playing video games non-stop for 24 hours. Some came prepared with sleeping bags, others amused themselves with decks of cards during breaks.
The gaming marathon was arranged by members of Meridian Tech’s chapter of SkillsUSA, a nationwide career and technical student group. The aim was to fundraise for St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital located in Boise.
"We recognized that this is exactly what our school needs since it has so many gaming enthusiasts," stated Marco Duarte, a senior enrolled in the school’s web development program who assisted in organizing the event.
Duarte mentioned that SkillsUSA advisor and Meridian Tech teacher Duane Erickson informed students about a fundraising event named Extra Life via the Children’s Miracle Network. This initiative allows teams to collect funds during gaming sessions such as trivia or bingo nights.
To put their own twist on the fundraiser, the students initially proposed hosting a "tech party," an event the school occasionally organizes. This concept then expanded further.
“This marks our first-ever 24-hour event at this school,” stated Mar Bradford, a junior focusing on cybersecurity. “It definitely generated quite a bit of excitement.”
Bradford joined forces with Duarte and Ethan Mensior, who was a junior focusing on software. They collaborated to contact nearby companies for assistance in providing prizes for gaming contests during the event. Kokusai Electric, a Japanese chipmaker with facilities in Boise, offered sponsorship which included a customized gaming computer and a graphic tablet as rewards.
The entire marathon was live-streamed via Twitch, a live-streaming platform popular in video gaming and esports.
We displayed it on the TVs throughout the school for everyone to watch," explained Bradford. "Those watching from their homes could join as well.
And every time someone made a donation, it would appear on the screen, allowing everyone to see the total amount raised at that moment," Mensior noted, "and watching it grow was quite enjoyable.
A total of 121 Meridian Tech students, along with friends and alumni, took part in the marathon, as stated by Mensior. Additionally, donations were accepted online from those unable to participate directly. They managed to raise nearly $23,000, falling slightly short of their $25,000 target.
I'm utterly amazed and profoundly proud of our school and how our little community managed to come together and raise such an impressive amount," Bradford stated. "It’s still mind-boggling to me.
Erickson stated that the money will be used for updating a teenager lounge located on the pediatric unit of St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital situated at 190 East Bannock Street in Boise. This space serves as an essential sanctuary for teens who are admitted to the hospital, Erickson mentioned in his statement.
The students are hoping the refurbished room will come with enhanced gaming facilities.
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