Chippewa Valley Times

Some incoming freshmen at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire are being rewarded for their competitive video gaming skills with esports scholarships. For the second straight year, UW-Eau Claire is offering five one-time $2,000 scholarships to first-year students for the 2024-25 academic year.

Billy Felz, UW-Eau Claire’s vice chancellor for enrollment management, noted that colleges across the country are turning to esports to increase enrollment. The university’s Esports Club has grown to about 500 members in less than five years, encompassing both competitive and casual gamers who utilize the expanded lab in Room 112A of Hilltop Center.

“It is hugely popular at the high school level, and it’s something that a significant number of prospective students are looking to continue in their college experiences,” Felz said. “We’ve enhanced our esports program with dedicated coaching and recruitment scholarships which allows us to keep up with our competitors across the state. It’s great to know that our reputation is growing when it comes to competitive and casual opportunities for our students through esports.”

The scholarships offered through the UW-Eau Claire Foundation present an opportunity for the university to “differentiate itself from other colleges in the area who also offer competitive esports,” according to Nate Garvey, advisor for the university’s Esports Club.

“We like to give the scholarships out to students we believe will bring value to the program,” Garvey said. “Not just the best players, but good leaders and those that want to take on roles to continue to move the program forward. That could be as a student coach or as a program administrator — or someone who wants to take on vocational roles within the program.”

Garvey mentioned that both scholarship recipients and their parents were enthusiastic about these awards. “They were surprised to know that esports scholarships were available, and we believe that it helps show those parents and other students that esports are taken seriously and that there is a value to allowing students to participate in these activities,” he said.

Scholarship recipient Hayden Boeckmann of Forest Lake, Minnesota, expressed his reasons for choosing UW-Eau Claire: its "chill environment," opportunities offered, and proximity from home. Boeckmann was impressed with how well-organized and managed the university's esports program was and appreciated receiving a $2,000 scholarship.

“I had never thought I would get a scholarship for esports since it’s not seen by many as a big enough thing to consider a scholarship for, but I think it’s a really cool way to get people interested in esports and the program,” said Boeckmann, who plans on majoring in computer science while competing in Valorant or Counter-Strike 2 esports competitions.

In related news concerning alumni achievements: Zachary May will participate in an English teaching assistantship in Argentina after graduating in December 2023; Anna Wendorff will serve as an English teaching assistant in South Korea following her May 2023 graduation. The commencement exercises will see UW-Eau Claire's 100,000th graduate receive their diploma among 1,485 graduates at Zorn Arena—the last ceremony at this facility before moving next fall's commencement events to Sonnentag Event Center. Alumni Association awards will be presented on Friday, May 17th, with recipients including John Rosenow, Nancy Langer, Gary Jacobus, and Jerry M. Bauer.