It’s Manhattan Time! All this week, the New York Videogame Critics Circle is proud to present the finalists for the Minecraft Education: Battle of the Boroughs. Below, we present Manhattan’s elite competitors – with some prime quotes, questions and answers from each team.

Additionally, the Circle’s Playing With Purpose Program is part of the Battle with its own Minecraft Writing Challenge. On June 8, the Circle’s Ryan O’Callaghan will announce four Minecraft Writing Challenge winners at 12:30 pm during the Mayor’s Cup Finals on June 8, presented by the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, at the recently-renovated Brooklyn Public Library. The event takes place all day long and is free to all. The lucky winners of the Minecraft Writing Challenge will get a cash prize – and bragging rights for the year.

For months now, students across the boroughs have been busily competing to win the big battle. According to the Mayor’s Office, here’s more detail: “Building on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), PlaNYC: Getting Sustainability Done (GSD), the city’s strategic climate plan, and the Mayor’s Digital Gaming Initiative, student teams will compete to create the most inclusive future-ready city spaces. Mayor Adams’ video message is right here.

Each borough has determined 3 teams (one K-5 grade team, one 6-8 grade team, and new this year a 9-12 grade team).”

We are super happy to present these excellent Manhattan finalists! 

MANHATTAN FINALISTS

• Division: Elementary School
  • School: P.S. 084 Lillian Weber (03M084)
  • Principal: Evelyn Lolis |
  • Coach: So Ahn |
  • Team Name: The Green Guardians
  • Location: 32 West 92 Street, Manhattan, NY 10025
  • Team Photos Below:
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• Division: Middle School
  • School: New Explorations into Science, Technology, and Math High School (01M539)
  • Principal: Meaghan Lynch |
  • Coach: Richard Sullivan |
  • Team Name: Amateur Hour
  • Location: 111 Columbia Street Manhattan, 10002

• Division: High School
  • School: Stephen T. Mather Building Arts & Craftsmanship High School (02M139)
  • Principal: Christopher Mayer |
  • Coach: Michelle Lacroix |
  • Team Name: Five Stars
  • Location: 439 West 49th Street Manhattan, NY 10019
  • Team photos: