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

  • sapling sprouting from a cracked stone

    Lessons in Resilience: Disaster Recovery in Our Schools

    Facility managers play a pivotal role in how well a school weathers and recovers from a crisis. Whether it's a hurricane, a flood, a tornado, or a man-made event, preparation determines resilience.

  • NWEA Report Recommends K–12 Natural Disaster Recovery Strategies

    The Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA), a K–12 assessment and research organization, recently announced the release of a new playbook for schools and communities recovering from extreme weather events, according to a news release.

  • California K–12 District Finishes Renovations on Multi-Sport Stadium

    The Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) in Alameda, Calif., recently announced the completion of a renovation project on the Encinal Jr. & Sr. High School stadium, according to a news release. The district partnered with Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) and Bothman Construction on the facility, and funding came from Bond Measure B.

  • Massachusetts K–12 District Selects Architect for New Junior High

    Swansea Public Schools in Swansea, Mass., recently announced that it has selected Finegold Alexander Architects to design a new junior high school for the district, according to a news release. The firm will create the Feasibility Study and Schematic Design for Joseph Case Junior High School after a lengthy selection process by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).

Digital Edition