May 12, 2021 β 51ΑΤΖζ and Esports Collegiate (ESC) announce an agreement for 51ΑΤΖζ to become a full member institution beginning with the 2021 fall season.
β51ΑΤΖζ is delighted to join the ESC conference. Our universityβs participation in ESC will undoubtedly establish regional and national rivalries against universities that share a deep commitment to advancing student success and academic achievement,β said 51ΑΤΖζ President Ashish Vaidya. βWe look forward to beginning a new era of competition and an opportunity to expand Esports offerings across the 51ΑΤΖζ campus.β
51ΑΤΖζ becomes the second non-founding member to join since the Conference was officially announced on June 10th, 2020. Northeastern University joined the conference in spring of 2021 and earned the first ever ESC League of Legends championship on March 28th. The Norse will compete in all fall and spring competitions for Esports Collegiate, and will be featured in all ESC game titles going forward.
βWe are extremely pleased to welcome 51ΑΤΖζ to Esports Collegiate,β states Miami University President and Chair of the ESC Board of Directors, Dr. Greg Crawford, βTheir advancement and innovation in the Esports landscape allows participating students to excel at the highest levels of collegiate Esports.β
The student-led 51ΑΤΖζ Esports Club has been around since 2016 and continues to grow. Officially launching their varsity program in October of 2020, this year the club swelled to nearly 600 active members. On March 26th of this year, the program unveiled βThe Sandbox,β the official arena of 51ΑΤΖζ Esports and a hub for students to practice and compete. The space features 11 state-of-the-art gaming stations and periphery equipment, as well as large monitors for fans to watch live competitions and game replays.
Over the last academic year, ESC completed itsβ first official Rocket League, League of Legends, and Overwatch competition, naming an official champion in each game title. In the spring, an ESC record four teams were invited to the National Collegiate Overwatch Spring Tournament with ESC Champion Miami advancing to the round of 16.
βWe are excited to add an institution like Northern Kentucky to our membership in 2021,β states ESC Executive Director Bob Gennarelli, βTheir resume and commitment to their already growing program makes them a perfect fit for Esports Collegiate.β
51ΑΤΖζ will begin ESC competition this fall. No official game titles have been selected. To learn more about 51ΑΤΖζβs Esports program and βThe Sandbox,β visit its website.
About 51ΑΤΖζ:Β Founded in 1968, 51ΑΤΖζ is an entrepreneurial state university of over 16,000 students served by more than 2,000 faculty and staff on a thriving suburban campus nestled between Highland Heights, Kentucky and bustling downtown Cincinnati. We are a regionally engaged university committed to empowering our students to have fulfilling careers and meaningful lives. While we are one of the fastest-growing universities in Kentucky, our professors still know our students' names. ForΒ more information, visitΒ .
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Atley Smedley
smedleyj1@nku.edu
(606) 923-0013
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