War Vet & Washington University Scholar Launches Educational Gaming Start-Up

Science focused game company premieres their second crowd-funding campaign.
By: Genius Games
 
 
Genius Games
Genius Games
ST. LOUIS - Oct. 24, 2014 - PRLog -- On Veterans Day, former Iraq veteran and Washington University scholar John Coveyou plans to successfully crowd-fund his 2nd educational game. A native of St. Louis, Coveyou never imagined at 30 he would have a Masters from Washington University and be running his own business – Genius Games (http://gotgeniusgames.com/).

Coveyou recently launched the company’s second science-based game, Peptide: A Protein Building Game on Kickstarter (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/geniusgames/peptide-a-protein-building-game). With already 38% of their goal reached in just over a week, they plan to have the project fully funded by November 11th. “I wanted to end on Veterans Day as a symbol that returning veterans are out here and capable of big things when given the chance,” says Coveyou.

The company’s first game, Linkage: A DNA Card Game (http://www.amazon.com/Linkage-A-DNA-Card-Game/dp/B00NAEO482) raised over 300% of its goal with over 600 backers in just one month on Kickstarter, blowing away Coveyou’s expectations. It was clear he was scratching an itch for a country of parents and teachers struggling in its STEM education.  It is currently available to purchase through Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/Linkage-A-DNA-Card-Game/dp/B00NAEO482)and recommended for 10+.  Not just for middle and high school educators, the game is also very popular with gaming enthusiasts of all ages.

Coveyou’s love of science, which led to the creation of Genius Games, also kept his hopes alive when times were tough.  In his Junior year at Marquette High in Chesterfield, Coveyou nearly dropped out of school while living out of his car and working the night shift at an IHOP. “At 17, the military really seemed like the only viable option to have a better future for my life,” says Coveyou. Little did he know, just years later he would find himself serving his country in Iraq. “It was a difficult, lonely time where one of my biggest solaces was watching Chemistry & Biology lectures from MIT on the tiny screen of my IPod! It was definitely out of the norm for a soldier to spend his free time learning science.”

Upon returning home, Coveyou enrolled in St. Louis Community College – Meramec (STLCC) where he excelled in school. In stark comparison to High School, John thrived in College accumulating nearly a 4.0 and was invited to give the commencement speech for his graduating class in 2007.

John then applied to Washington University, but he didn’t expect to get in. “Receiving the letter of acceptance was simultaneously one of the most exciting and depressing moments of my life,” he says. “I had to face the reality that I had the potential to do something great, but there was no way I could afford it.” Then John received a call from a representative of the Elizabeth Danforth scholarship, which gave two STLCC students each year a full ride to Washington University. Coveyou remarks, “I knew that would be the only chance I had to attend a prestigious school like Wash U.” John made it to the 2nd round of the Scholarship gaining a chance to speak with the committee. After relaying his adventures with the military, mission trips to Africa & Honduras, and his passion for Science, the committee ended up awarding him the scholarship.

From there, Coveyou went on to get a degree in Environmental Biology and then decided to stay on to get his Master’s Degree in Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering. After school, he worked at an Engineering firm and taught chemistry at STLCC, but couldn’t help the nagging passion he had to teach kids how enjoyable and cool science was. So he quit his well-paid Engineering job to start his own Educational Board game company, Genius Games.

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Source:Genius Games
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Tags:Science, Gaming, Educational Games, Crowd-funding, Genetics
Industry:Education, Games
Location:St. Louis - Missouri - United States
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