I am about as proud as a teacher could possibly be in this moment.

This year, my Game Design class all entered the Games For Change student challenge. They spent four months, from January to April, creating games on the themes of Be Ocean Wise, Stronger and Greener Communities, and Recycle the Runway.

It was an incredibly challenging few months, but all of the students (grades 4-9) rose to the challenge and created some really incredible games in Minecraft that they got in just before the deadline (some by the skin of their teeth!). I knew many of them had a really great shot at making it to the finalists pool.

But imagine my shock when I got the news — EVERY ONE OF THEM ARE FINALISTS!

We had a serious talk during our last class. About the challenges they face sometimes, from peers or even parents, who see Minecraft as “just a kids’ game,” and don’t see the value in it. I wanted to make it very, very clear to them that our game design class was an ENGINEERING class, first and foremost (source: my friend who is a software engineer, who confirmed that all the skills they were learning were ones he uses every day). I pointed out all the project management, design, and technical skills they had been learning over those long months.

And what a payoff. I am so proud, and I can’t wait to see how they do. Stay tuned for the awards ceremony May 23!