Digital high school, digital sports, real-world scholarships
May 11, 2026
By STU CLAMPITT
[email protected]
On Saturday, April 25, students from across the state gathered at the Riverview Health Arena at Innovation Mile, 14157 CJ Way, Noblesville, to compete in the Indiana Esports Network State Finals.
For some students, this in-person event meant more than just competition.
Students from Indiana Gateway Digital Academy (INGDA) and Indiana Digital Learning School (INDLS), two fully online public schools, met in-person for the first time at the competition.
Following the state finals, students also had the opportunity to explore a college fair, discover internship opportunities, and take part in cybersecurity presentations.
After the final round of Rocket League competition, The Reporter spoke with INGDA Clubs and Esports Coordinator Danny Patton and INGDA senior Landon Kerkes about Esports and the digital high school experience.
Kerkes, who has been playing Rocket League for six years, often for four hours per day, was on the state runner-up team on April 25. He told The Reporter there are many college scholarship opportunities for the best high school players.
“If a college sees your skill and thinks you’re good for their team, they make an offer,” Kerkes said. “There’s been offers for me, too. My entire team’s also been offered a couple college scholarships to be able to participate in college Esports teams.”
Some of those are full-ride scholarships.
“So, kind of like regular sports, if you’re part of a D1 team, and you’re very good, and you’re the top player in the league, then they would want to offer you as much as they could,” Kerkes said.
Kerkes will attend college at virtually no cost, but that is because of his academic performance, rather than Esports.
“I’m going to Purdue Northwest up in Hammond,” Kerkes said. “I’m part of the honors college and they offered me a full ride there, just from academics.”
Kerkes plans to drive back and forth to college classes because the Purdue campus in Hammond is only 30 minutes from his home.