<p>Elite Gaming’s Rob O’Connor on eSports, STEM, and Building Community in Syracuse Host Danny Tripodi interviews Rob O’Connor of Elite Gaming about their advanced gaming center in Syracuse that combines eSports with STEM/CTE programming, content creation (podcasting and streaming), drones, and Lego robotics. O’Connor explains Elite Gaming began as a pre-COVID idea with partner Matt, grew after touring other facilities, launched in a rented wing at MOST, and expanded to 60 PCs as educators showed interest in engaging students who weren’t involved in traditional activities. He addresses misconceptions about gaming, describing structured practices, accountability for grades/attendance/discipline, teamwork and communication skills, and stories of students improving school engagement and reaching college, including eSports scholarships. He discusses helping districts build eSports programs and using AI tools for game development learning. He promotes a Sunday high school invitational featuring Smash, Rocket League, and Fortnite. 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 00:31 What Elite Gaming Is 02:07 Why They Started 04:47 Debunking Gaming Myths 06:58 Scholarships and College 09:31 Student Success Stories 12:33 Team Structure and Accountability 14:17 Soft Skills and Life Lessons 18:48 Hope for the Future 20:21 Rapid Fire Game Picks 21:47 Gameplay Versus Graphics 22:44 Toxic Fanbases And Digital Citizenship 23:31 Building School Esports Programs 26:16 AI And Game Dev In Schools 30:54 High School Invitational And Community Impact 33:10 Future Of Esports In Education 34:33 Final Thanks And Sign Off</p>