When he first set foot on campus, Ali Yassine, a dual-enrolled student who attends both HFC and Dearborn High School, wanted to create a unique social activity on campus.
A lifelong gamer – Super Smash Bros., Dragon Ball FighterZ, and Mario Kart are among his favorites – Yassine sought to join the Animation, Comics, and Gaming Club, but that club was inactive.
So he set out to form the Competitive Gaming Club. The group meets every Wednesday, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., in Room J-104 in the Science Building. HFC English professor Dr. Courtney Matthews serves as the faculty advisor.
“I notice that people enjoy bonding over video games,” said Yassine. “So I decided to establish a place here on the HFC campus. People have really connected and enjoy playing video games together.”
Large membership likes to have fun, de-stress
The eldest of two sons, Yassine lives in Dearborn. After graduating in 2023, he plans to transfer to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor where he will study biomedical engineering.
“The club just started this semester and has had a strong turnout of members every week,” said Matthews. “The club has already hosted two tournaments. From a faculty advisor standpoint, it has been really nice to see students have the opportunity to meet and connect with others, as well as take an opportunity to de-stress and just have fun together. Last week, one student thanked me for supporting the club because he really appreciates it and enjoys coming every week.”
The Competitive Gaming Club has 53 members. About 15-20 are active every week. Students show up, sign in, bring their game consoles, and play. Super Smash Bros. is one of the club’s most popular games.
“When I arrived at HFC, I felt very isolated, especially since we were coming out of COVID,” explained Yassine. “This group was something students definitely needed, and I’m proud to see it come to fruition. I’ve made a lot of new friends. It’s given students the opportunity to socialize and bond over their mutual love of video games; this has been very valuable for the campus.”
Original source can be found here.
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