GAME4GOOD
2nd Annual Esports and STEM Festival Presented by Microsoft
November 11-12, 2023
The Hotel at UMD. 7777 Baltimore Ave. College Park, MD 20740
ABOUT THE EVENT
The Maryland STEM Festival holds an annual event, inspiring youth to pursue STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering, and Math) careers, and partners with Game4Good to put on the 2-day conference called the Esports and STEM Festival. This year's theme for the Esports and STEM Festival is "Gaming in the Classroom” and will be about the impact value gaming can bring in the classroom, as we look to enrich the K-12 educational experience wholistically to improve outcomes.  
WHY ATTEND?
 
As we're entering a new digital era and our youth are becoming more and more digitally native, it’s important for those who work with kids, have kids, or even understand that video gaming is becoming more popular and mainstream in today's world to meet the younger generation where they are, as we talk together on this important topic of how we're paving the road for the younger generations to navigate. By attending this event, you'll be empowering the activation of our youth into future STEM professionals, as we demonstrate what it looks like to game with a purpose, and Game4Good!!!
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Dr. Katrina Adkins
US Academic Esports League (USAEL)
FEATURED SPEAKERS
James Genus
Microsoft
Dexter Carr Jr.
Game4Good
Ed Mullen
Baltimore Region Tech Council
Jesus Careaga
Comcast Business
Dr. Melanie Stegman
Maryland Institute College of Art
Sergio Brack
University of Maryland
Marc Almanzor
Make Gaming About Fundraising
Rob Moore
Digital Harbor Foundation
Steven Isaacs
Epic Games
Tarrin Morgan
MSU/Real DigitizED
Dr. Willie Sanders
Pass IT On, Inc
Vania McBean
University of Maryland
Topaz Navarro
Escape Velocity Academy
Julian Fitzgerald
Cxmmunity
Danielle Rourke
CDW Education
Dani Byerson
Baltimore City Public Schools
Michael Anderson
FITGMR
Calvin Dascent Jr
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington
Brian Dickman
Cleverlike Studios
Jon Williams
MAP Technologies
Tronster Hartley
Firaxis Games
Jihan Johnston
NASEF
Lance McCoy
BCPS
Dr. Nadine Ebri
Microsoft
AGENDA
Friday, November 10
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Cocktail Reception
The Hall CP
Saturday, November 11
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
General Breakfast
The Hotel at UMD
9:00 AM - 9:15 AM
Opening Remarks
The Hotel at UMD
9:15 AM - 10:00 AM
Keynote
The Hotel at UMD
10:05 AM - 11:00 AM
Panel 1: STEM Learning Through Video Games
The Hotel at UMD
11:05 AM - 12:00 PM
Panel 2: Digital Divide: Increasing Access to Technology in the Classroom
The Hotel at UMD
12:00 PM  - 3:00 PM
Esports Tournament 1: Mario Kart 8 (Prelims/Semi)
The Hotel at UMD
12:00 PM - 12:55 PM
Lunch/VIP Lunch
The Hotel at UMD
1:00 PM - 1:55 PM
Presentation 1: Minecraft Educational Version
The Hotel at UMD
2:05 PM - 3:00 PM
Presentation 2: Fortnite Creative DemoPresentation/Demo: Epic Games: From Player to Creator Preparing Students for Careers in Interactive 3D
The Hotel at UMD
3:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Esports Tournament 2: Smash Bros (Prelims/Semi)
The Hotel at UMD
3:05 PM - 3:45 PM
Presentation 3: Lesson Plan: Class is in Session
The Hotel at UMD
3:55 PM - 4:45 PM
Panel 3: Career Readiness and Marketable Skills
The Hotel at UMD
4:45 PM - 5:30 PM
Vendor Networking
The Hotel at UMD
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
After Party
The Hall CP
Sunday, November 12
8:45 AM - 9:25 AM
VIP Breakfast
The Hotel at UMD
9:30 AM - 9:45 AM
Opening Remarks
The Hotel at UMD
9:50 AM - 10:30 AM
Panel 4: Scholastic Esports
The Hotel at UMD
10:35 AM -11:25 AM
Panel 5: Physical Wellness in Esports and Gaming
The Hotel at UMD
11:30 AM - 12:20 PM
Panel 6: Esports and Mental Health
The Hotel at UMD
12:25 PM - 1:00 PM
General Lunch
The Hotel at UMD
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Tournament 1: Mario Kart 8 Finals
The Hotel at UMD
1:05 PM - 1:50 PM
Presentation 4: Game4Good Demo/ Fundraising Through Gaming
The Hotel at UMD
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Tournament 2: Smash Bros Finals
The Hotel at UMD
1:55 PM - 2:35 PM
Panel 7: Edutainment and the Value of Gaming
The Hotel at UMD
2:40 PM - 3:00 PM
Closing Remarks
The Hotel at UMD
TITLE SPONSOR
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SUPPORTERS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the Esports and STEM Festival?
 
The Esports and STEM Festival is an event at connects STEM learning with Esports and Video Gaming.
What is the Maryland STEM Festival?
 
The Maryland STEM Festival is a non-profit whose mission is to encourage all students regardless of background and experience to take a greater interest in STEM with the hope they will pursue a STEM related/focused career.
Who should attend this event?
 
This event is aimed to bring together educational professionals, community leaders, parents, esports and video gaming industry experts, and anyone who is interested in how video games can be leveraged in the school system to uplift K-12 students.
Are students welcome to participate?
 
We do have an esports and gaming hall to engage the students. We’ll also be having multiple tournaments for the students to participate in, experiencing what it’s like to be in a scholastic esports event.
Are there any age restrictions for students?
 
Participation in the tournaments will be primarily focused on the 7th-12th grade students. Though we understand that there may be elementary students present, they will need to be supervised by a faculty chaperone.
Are the students competing for money like regular tournaments?
 
No. We will have prizes for all participants but will have plaques for the top performers of the competitive events.
Are college students welcome to attend the Esports and STEM Festival?
 
Yes, though they can’t compete in the tournaments, they can attend and participate in both the panel sessions and esports hall.
CONTACT
Game4Good, formally known as “G-Haven eSports” (G-Haven), is a social impact eSports organization aiming to demonstrate the value of gaming and esports beyond entertainment while activating the gaming community into socially conscious gamers who game with a purpose. Empowering them through products and services to utilize the strength and impact of their gaming passions to not only address but create positive social change!
 
Built by gamers for gamers, striving to bring the world closer together through our passion for video gaming. We aim to start a new wave of gaming, socially conscious gaming, where gamers are aware of the power and impact they have whenever they pick up a controller, by socially engaging and activating the gaming community through our events and initiatives.
Dexter Carr Jr.
dcarrjr@ghavenesports.com
443-963-5959