We’re so excited to introduce you to our two new cadets for our 1,000 Dreams Fund Broadcasting Cadetship in partnership with Riot Games’ Remote Broadcast Center (RBC), powered by AWS, in Seattle, Washington.

This program is truly such a unique opportunity that helps early career professionals in esports production. The three-month paid cadetship offers a behind-the-scenes look at the esports industry along with additional training and experiential opportunities.

Following a highly competitive application process, these two winners have been selected for our second annual cadetship:

• Marissa, a student at Indiana University Bloomington
• Kev., a student at the University of North Florida

“This year marks 10 years of 1,000 Dreams Fund building programs that create real access to opportunity for students and early-career talent,” said Christie Garton, 1DF founder and CEO. “This Cadetship reflects the kind of long-term, impact-driven work we’ve been committed to since day one, and in a time of deep transition in the workforce, these programs are more important than ever. We’re proud to continue expanding pathways, especially within emerging industries, that help students turn ambition into lasting careers.”

Part of that pathway expansion in this Cadetship program included a series of masterclasses we hosted in the fall of 2025 with Riot Games and AWS team members. We had hundreds of participants tune in to learn more about esports broadcasting and production while gleaning valuable insights from industry professionals.

The Cadetship Experience

Both Marissa and Kev will receive immersive, real-world experience working alongside industry leaders while gaining the training, mentorship, and access needed to launch long-term careers in esports and live production.

Here’s a quick snapshot of what the program includes:

• A paid 3 month cadetship with Riot Games’ Seattle-based Remote Broadcast Center
• Funding for accommodation for the duration of the cadetship
• Travel stipend for travel to/from Seattle for the cadetship
• $500 grant to put towards a career coach who specializes in the gaming and esports industry who will provide direct career consultation and guidance
• Two 60-minute mentor sessions to assist in reviewing goals and career plans
• Additional mentorship and “pop-up” opportunities with onsite partners

“We’re excited to host the esports Broadcasting Cadetship in our Seattle Remote Broadcast Center for the first time,” said Allyson Gormley, Global Operations Director, Esports Broadcast & Production for Riot Games. “This facility has revolutionized how we produce esports at scale, and the Cadetship brings that innovation to life by connecting emerging talent directly to the future of the industry. Through our partnership with 1,000 Dreams Fund, we’re not only investing in today’s talent but also building a pipeline of leaders equipped to shape what comes next in global esports production.”

Get to Know the Cadets

Marissa: “My ultimate dream is to make movies, host large-scale gaming tournaments, and create a foundation to help others who started out like I did… This cadetship is a crucial step in my startup journey and will help me sharpen my production skills, deepen my understanding of esports broadcasting, and grow into a stronger, more confident filmmaker and creative.”

 

Kev: “My dream is to be a part of the teams that create world-class esports broadcasts like the League of Legends World Championship… Support from 1DF has been the most impactful thing to happen in my career so far, and the experience I’ll gain working at the Riot Games’ RBC, is something I know I’ll carry with me into every role I take on in the future.”

Congratulations again to our two 2026 cadets. We can’t wait to follow along their journey at the RBC!

To learn more about the Riot Games Esports Broadcasting Cadetship, visit our program page here.