Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Bismarck State College Adds Varsity Esports, Offering Scholarships

  • 07/25/19

BISMARCK, ND – Bismarck State College (BSC) Athletic Director Buster Gillis recently announced that BSC is entering the rapidly growing and competitive world of esports (electronic sports) by launching a varsity Mystics esports team this fall. The college is actively recruiting gamers to fill the 2019-20 roster with 50 $1,000 scholarships.

“Gaming is mainstream and implementing a team on campus allows us to bring those who may not always become involved in a sport or campus organization together,” says Gilliss. “Esports is a means for BSC to attract students, celebrate a diversity of interests on our campus, and invest money to benefit even more of our student body.”

ESports gives students access to a unique technology environment and complements a number of academic programs on campus such as web design, computer science, cybersecurity, and mass communications. The strategy leveraged by gamers is relevant to the skills employers are looking for—team play, strategic thinking, problem solving, and an ability to handle stressful situations.

“We know students who are engaged in extracurriculars do better academically and socially,” says Gilliss.

BSC is a member of the newly formed National Junior College Athletic Association Esports, the governing body for junior college esports, and the Mystics program will be led by coach and advanced gamer Casey Mischel of Mandan, ND.

Student players will be chosen for the team based on their rank and score history in four games: Overwatch, League of Legends, Heatherstone, and Fortnite, and the Mystics will compete against teams from Dickinson State University, University of Jamestown, and Minnesota State University Moorhead, as well as other NJCAA schools across the country. The collegiate esports season culminates in a national championship tournament, similar to other collegiate athletics.

“This is a win-win for BSC and we’re excited to launch this especially as the momentum is building in the high schools,” says Gilliss.

This fall, 16 North Dakota high schools will have sanctioned esports teams.

Students interested in competing in the 2019-20 Mystics esports season can complete the online recruiting form at bismarckstate.edu/esportsrecruit.

Featured

  • Preparing for the Next Era of Healthcare Education, Innovation

    Across the country, public universities and community colleges are accelerating investments in healthcare education facilities as part of a broader strategy to address workforce shortages, modernize outdated infrastructure, and expand clinical training capacity. These projects, which are often located at the center of campus health and science districts, are no longer limited to traditional classrooms.

  • UNT Dallas Holds Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for $100M STEM Building

    The University of North Texas at Dallas in Dallas, Texas, recently celebrated the opening of its new, $100-million STEM Building, according to local news. The ceremony on Dec. 2 preceded the first day of classes in the facility on Jan. 12, 2026.

  • Illinois District Boosts Security at High-School Stadium

    Richmond-Burton Community High School in Richmond, Ill., recently announced that it has completed the redesigned entrance to its high school stadium with a new focus on school security and community engagement, according to a news release. The district partnered with Wold Architects and Engineers on the project as part of District #157’s year-long facilities master plan.

  • Spaces4Learning Trends & Predictions for Educational Facilities in 2026: Part II

    As education leaders look toward 2026, the design of K–12 and higher education facilities is being reshaped by powerful, converging forces. Survey respondents point to the rapid growth of Career and Technical Education, deeper alignment with workforce and industry needs, and the accelerating influence of AI and emerging technologies.

Digital Edition