Photos and story By Nicole Griffin

Inside the Whitestown Unit of the Boys and Girls Club of Boone County, the glow of gaming PCs and the sound of friendly competition fill the club’s new E-Sports & Gaming Lounge. 

It’s a space where middle school students build teamwork, communication, and technology skills through gaming. 

“This is amazing,” said club member Evey Walter. “I have always dreamed of having a real gaming room. It’s just really awesome!” 

The Boys and Girls Club cut the ribbon on the room back in March, opening it to members in grades five through eight for after-school programming. From Fortnite to Rocket League and other games, the E-Sports & Gaming Lounge gives students a place to play, compete, and connect. 

“I get to know people better and their tactics of playing,” Walter said. “It helps me build up on how I play and what strategies I want to use in the game.” 

E-Sports Coordinator Julian Park said that for the first few months, it has been more casual gaming. 

“I would like it to be more of a space for healthy competition and fostering different skills like teamwork, introducing them to new concepts and ideas from different games,” Park said. 

A community-built space

The room was made possible with support from several organizations, including Boone Power and its subsidiary Boone Cooperative Advantage Connect. 

“The Boys and Girls Club approached us about providing fiber connectivity,” Boone Power IT Infrastructure Manager Matt Ladd said. 

According to Ladd, Boone Cooperative Advantage Connect began during the COVID-19 pandemic by offering free Wi-Fi in parks and public spaces across Boone County. 

As the cooperative expanded its fiber network for the electric side of the business, it was able to offer high-speed internet to the Whitestown unit of the Boys and Girls Club.

“We worked together with some of their community partners to be able to deliver the service in time for the grand opening,” Ladd said. 

The E-Sports & Gaming Lounge includes 12 custom-built gaming PCs, along with light-up keyboards, Xbox and PlayStation controllers, a mouse at every station, and HyperX headsets. 

Support rooted in service

For Boone Power, supporting the project aligns with its long-standing commitment to community involvement.

“We are always looking for ways to serve the community beyond providing power,” said Boone Power Director of Communications Mandy Saucerman. 

Throughout the years, Saucerman said Boone Power has supported the Boys and Girls Club through volunteer work and event sponsorships. 

Boone Power is now providing a multi-year sponsorship for the lounge, which reflects one of its seven cooperative principles, concern for community. 

“We are so excited to see the kids coming and enjoying it and being able to try something new,” Saucerman said. 

More than gaming

This summer, Park expanded the program by leading two E-Sports camps in June, teaching students gaming strategies, teamwork, and communication skills. 

He was hired by the Boys and Girls Club to help middle school students take their gaming to the next level. 

“I have always had an interest in games in particular, and I love competition,” Park said. 

He hopes students walk away with lessons they can use beyond the screen. 

“I really want to help teach them that these skills are transferable to other facets of life, that understanding your role in a team and understanding your part helps you,” Park said. 

A place to unwind

For many students, the lounge has quickly become their favorite spot to decompress after school. 

“It’s going through school, trying to survive, and then coming here to have fun,” club member Gabe Gist said. “It is just a relaxing place to be.”

Gist calls the E-Sports & Gaming Lounge “a huge upgrade” for the club. While he has gaming equipment at home, he said it does not compare to what the room offers. 

“I just love it. I don’t have the keyboard and mouse,” Gist said. 

Park believes that access to advanced technology at a young age can help prepare students for the future. 

“If you understand a pretty high-end PC and all the software on there at age 10, think about what you could pick up by age 16,” Park said. “It opens those avenues for learning with technology.” 

As Boone County continues to grow, Boone Power leaders say they are proud to support the Boys and Girls Club and the students who use the space through the multi-year sponsorship. 

“It’s about supporting the community and improving quality of life,” Saucerman said. “This is one more way we can support the growth in our community.”

Scan the QR code below or visit our YouTube channel to watch a short video to learn more about the E-sports and Gaming Lounge.