GCI Communication Corp., Alaska’s largest telecommunications provider, is investing in University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) esports through a scholarship program and long-term funding for internet and technology at the Alaska Esports Center.
According to the official release, the GCI UAF Esports Scholarship provides two $5,000 awards each year to Alaska residents who are members of the UAF esports team and meet academic requirements. GCI also highlighted that one of the students receiving the scholarship is Owen Swan Adams, captain of UAF’s Overwatch 2 team, who explained that this scholarship helps him focus on school and competition without worrying about tuition.
Beyond the scholarship program, GCI has announced a long-term investment in the Alaska Esports Center. Established in 2021, the center offers students access to professional-level gaming equipment and a purpose-built environment for training and competition. The support includes a 10-year, $500,000 partnership that delivers a 5-gig fiber internet connection to the center.
Samuel Henderson, UAF Esports Coordinator, said, “The Alaska Esports Center gives our athletes a home base with pro-grade connectivity, team space, and a welcoming community. Support from partners like GCI elevates the competitive experience and gives our students tangible pathways, through scholarships, to stay in school, keep improving, and represent Nanook Nation on a bigger stage.”
Tiffany Vassar, Senior Program Manager for Contributions & Events at GCI, said. “We’re proud to support UAF’s athletes with scholarships and to invest in the infrastructure and programs that make high-level play possible statewide. From campus upgrades to ASAA competitions, our goal is to help Alaska gamers compete with confidence.”
Outside Alaska, other schools and esports groups are also building new partnerships. PlayVS, a North American school esports platform, has partnered with Indian company Desportz to launch a new Gaming Concepts program that helps students learn digital skills and career-focused skills through gaming.
At the college level, Lawrence Tech Esports has announced a new partnership with professional esports organisation Team Liquid, making it one of only a small number of university programs in the world to work directly with a professional esports team.
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