Ohio State University is hosting the first-ever standalone Scholastic Esports Awards. This event will recognize excellence and achievements in K-12 and college-level esports.

The awards ceremony will take place on January 11 and 12 at the Ohio Union and the Esports Arena on OSU’s campus. John Price, the manager of esports at OSU, noted that the world of esports and education has grown significantly over the last decade. Many state institutions now recognize esports as an official sport at the high school and middle school levels.

Ohio State was approached by Esports Foundry, a Worthington-based company, to host this event. The company aims to advance scholastic esports through this initiative. The event will include panels, social activities, and a combine where players can showcase their skills and potentially get recruited by college or professional teams. Some participating colleges are also offering scholarships to players.

Games featured at the event include Rocket League, Overwatch, Super Smash Bros., League of Legends, and Valorant. Price is optimistic about the future of esports, pointing out that more than 200 colleges and universities in the U.S. already recognize esports at the varsity level.

“In the next 5 to 10 years, esports will become even more commonplace,” Price said. “We’re building for the next generation. Esports is growing rapidly in primary and secondary education, and it’s only a matter of time before it further develops in collegiate and professional scenes.”

Additional Information

Ohio State University has been a leader in the development of esports programs. In 2018, the university launched a comprehensive esports program that combines academics, collegiate competition, and multidisciplinary research. This program includes an interdisciplinary curriculum spanning five colleges, focusing on game studies and esports. Students can pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as specialized certifications in areas like esports management, game art and production, game design, programming, and the business of games[4].

The university has also built a state-of-the-art esports arena on campus, which serves as a hub for Ohio State’s esports teams and offers facilities for open gaming, virtual reality experiences, and broadcast booths for students interested in shoutcasting. This arena is part of a broader initiative to provide diverse career opportunities in the esports industry.

Researchers at Ohio State, including those at the Wexner Medical Center, are studying the physical and mental attributes of elite esports athletes to understand how to optimize their performance. This research aims to benefit not only esports athletes but also athletes in traditional sports and even patients. The university’s involvement in esports reflects its commitment to innovation and high-performance athletics, extending its strengths in traditional sports to the rapidly growing field of esports.

The Scholastic Esports Awards align with Ohio State’s vision to support and celebrate the achievements of individuals and communities in the esports ecosystem. By hosting this event, Ohio State reinforces its position as a forefront institution in the development and advancement of esports education and competition.