Council Helps Foster Global Tech Pathways for Farrington Students

A burgeoning esports program at Farrington High School designed to be a bridge for students from online gaming to eventual careers in technology was born out of a meeting last fall between the Honolulu City Council’s Incheon Sister City delegation and the University of Utah Asia Campus (UAC) during the group’s goodwill trip to Korea—and now the two schools got to celebrate their new partnership at Farrington’s Esports Classic on April 6, 2024.

Farrington High School Principal Al Carganilla credits Councilmembers Radiant Cordero (who represents Farrington’s district) and Tyler Dos Santos-Tam, who attended the trip to Incheon, for meeting with UAC officials, drawing the connection to how the university’s acclaimed gaming program could potentially benefit local students, and then making the introductions between the two schools.

“We are grateful to the Honolulu City Council and Councilmembers Cordero and Dos Santos-Tam for strengthening our ties to cities like Incheon and connecting us to UAC’s acclaimed technology programs,” said Carganilla. “Without their help, our newly created esports program wouldn't be where it is today.”

“With UAC’s help, our program has grown tremendously in just a few short months,” said Farrington Esports Director and Computer Science Teacher Josh Dimaya. “And with the growth of technology-related jobs here in Hawaiʻi and throughout the country, we will be able to give our students more real-time experiences that can lead to opportunities to pursue high-paying tech jobs.” 

“The value of face-to-face meetings and personal relationships across borders changes the lives of individuals, and helps communities all over the world to thrive,” said Cordero. “To see an example of a partnership born out of a Sister City relationship bloom right before your eyes is something very special. As council members, it’s our kuleana to create diverse educational and economic opportunities like these for our residents, and we are so grateful to have met UAC and launched this journey together.”

“This is truly a win-win for Hawaiʻi and Incheon,” said Dos Santos-Tam. “And it is the reason that we want to cultivate strong relationships with other municipalities around the world. We strengthen our ties, we learn a lot, and then we bring back what we learn. Because at the end of the day, no matter what part of the world we live in, we are all better together.”