An esports program is coming to Newton High School thanks to a Newton Police Officer. Officer Kyle Lovan, the School Resource Officer at Berg Middle School, has raised the $24,000 needed to start the program. He became familiar with the esports program during a visit to his former high school in October of last year. That prompted his interest in bringing esports to Newton High School. Most of the funding Officer Lovan obtained for the effort came through grants.

“The three big grants I applied for were to Prairie Meadows. They gave me a good amount. A NCEF grant locally in Newton. Then Mechdyne in Marshalltown. Those are the three big grants that pushed me over the $24,000 amount.”

NCEF stands for Newton Community Education Foundation. Officer Lovan is now working with the Newton High School Principal Michael Dale and Athletic Director Ryan Rump to set up the esports room at the high school and get the program ready for the coming school year. Officer Lovan talks more about the start of esports at Newton High School on today’s Let’s Talk Newton.