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Ohio Wesleyan Awards First Esports Scholarships, Announces 2022-2023 Titles
DELAWARE, Ohio – Ohio Wesleyan University is awarding nine students with OWU Esports Scholarships as it prepares to launch its inaugural season of competition this fall.
For the 2022-2023 season, OWU Esports will compete in varsity-level play in the titles League of Legends, Overwatch, Rocket League, Super Smash Brothers Ultimate, and Valorant. Earning $1,000 Esports Scholarships are:
- Max Baker of Santa Monica, California, who plans to compete in Overwatch and Rocket League.
- Henry Blom of San Diego, California, who plans to compete in Overwatch and Smash Brothers.
- Mohammad Farhad of Lohagara, Chittagong, Bangladesh, who plans to compete in League of Legends and Valorant.
- Areli Hernandez of Menlo Park, California, who plans to compete in League of Legends and Valorant.
- Austin Jackson of Johnstown, Ohio, who plans to compete in Rocket League.
- Max Kidd of Abilene, Texas, who plans to compete in Overwatch and Smash Brothers.
- Austin Kling of North Royalton, Ohio, who plans to compete in
- Rowan Kriebel of Sewickley, Pennsylvania, who plans to compete in Rocket League.
- Daniel Morra of Franklin, Tennessee, who plans to compete in Rocket League and Smash Brothers.
Ohio Wesleyan’s Esports team, open to all students, will play out of a new arena being created inside Welch Hall.
Students will be able to compete in multiple games as their schedules permit and will be held to the same high standards as other OWU athletes, said Kyle Jenkins, esports coordinator and head coach.
“Together, we will build an esports community that actively promotes student growth and achievement, and I look forward to leading this program to a successful future,” said Jenkins, who has competed among the top 5 percent of Starcraft players and the top 10 percent of League of Legends players.
OWU Esports athletes will compete through the National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC). NECC collaborates with varsity esports programs at more than 100 schools to lay the groundwork in areas such as competition and scholarships, eligibility, and the path to graduation.
Learn more about the OWU Esports program and follow the team on Discord, YouTube, and Twitch with links available at owu.edu/esports.
Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation’s premier liberal arts universities. Located in Delaware, Ohio, the private university offers more than 70 undergraduate majors and competes in 24 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Through its signature program, the OWU Connection, Ohio Wesleyan teaches students to integrate knowledge across disciplines, build a diverse and global perspective, and apply knowledge in real-world settings. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book “Colleges That Change Lives” and included on the U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review “Best Colleges” lists. Connect with OWU expert interview sources at owu.edu/experts or learn more at owu.edu.