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

  • Round Rock ISD Completes New Early College High School

    Round Rock ISD near Austin, Texas, recently announced that construction is complete on a new, 46,500-square-foot campus for Early College High School, according to a news release. The new facility will allow the school’s students and staff to move from portables into a permanent building and increase its enrollment to 500.

  • Pitzer College

    Designing for Change in Higher Ed Learning Environments

    Higher education will continue to evolve, and learning environments must evolve with it. By prioritizing adaptable infrastructure, thoughtful reuse, strong energy performance, and wellness-centered design, campuses can create spaces that support learning today while remaining flexible for the future.

  • textured paper collage shows a school building on fire as a fire truck sprays water into the flames

    Why a Fire Loss Is More than Flames

    We've all seen what fire damage can do to a property, but the types of damage building owners often encounter after a fire loss can exceed expectations. Having full awareness of the different forms of damage properties can sustain helps owners respond faster, reduce continued damage, and get back on the road to recovery in short order.

  • LSU Breaks Ground on $200M Residential Project

    Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La., recently broke ground on a new residential complex, according to university news. The South Quad residential project will consist of two buildings and add a total of 1,266 beds for freshmen students. The development comes with a price tag of $200 million, and it’s scheduled to open to students in fall 2027.

Digital Edition