{"id":170441,"date":"2022-12-14T08:08:32","date_gmt":"2022-12-14T18:08:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=170441"},"modified":"2022-12-14T08:08:32","modified_gmt":"2022-12-14T18:08:32","slug":"esports-top-collegiate-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2022\/12\/14\/esports-top-collegiate-program\/","title":{"rendered":"UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa esports wins best collegiate program in the nation"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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Nyle Sky Kauweloa and Kevin Nguyen accept the collegiate esports program of the year award. (Photo credit: Esports Awards)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at M\u0101noa esports program has been named the 2022 best collegiate esports program of the year by Esports Awards<\/a> at events that wrapped up on December 13.<\/p>\n

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UH<\/abbr> Esports Program Assistant Kevin Nguyen, Nyle Sky Kauweloa and Yugina Yun, a long-time supporter from the professional esports organization Gen.G (South Korea).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa took first place out of a pool of 10 finalist institutions. In 2021, UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa was named one of 10 finalists. This year\u2019s winner was selected by an esports panel of experts (75%) and public vote (25%).<\/p>\n

“I am completely humbled by the extraordinary nomination and award by the Esports Awards for the best collegiate program in 2022,” said UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa Esports Program Director Nyle Sky Kauweloa<\/strong>. “This is vindication that the path that I have been directing the program over the past several years has reaped benefits for our students. In particular, the relationship with the Overwatch League, and the internships created for our students, stood out for the video games industry in their acknowledging the importance of the collegiate program we have at UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa. I just want to send my deepest gratitude to students, faculty, administrators and industry for helping this program flourish.”<\/p>\n

Best in the U.S.<\/h2>\n

The esports program at UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa has skyrocketed since it began in 2019. Among its major accomplishments over the past year, UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa\u2019s Valorant team is in the top four in the nation throughout 2022, after winning its first international title in August 2022 and its first collegiate title last year.<\/p>\n

UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa was the host location for another Overwatch League tournament for the second straight year, after becoming the first higher education institution to host the league\u2019s regular season tournaments, playoffs and grand finals in 2021.<\/p>\n

UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa\u2019s League of Legends team earned a runner up finish in the Mountain West division in 2022, and the team\u2019s social media presence earned a top 10 ranking among collegiate programs.<\/p>\n

Ambassador of the year finalist<\/h2>\n
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Kauweloa at the Esports Awards in Las Vegas<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Kauweloa was one of 10 finalists for the collegiate esports ambassador of the year award. A spring 2022 communication and information sciences<\/a> PhD<\/abbr> graduate and head of the UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa Esports Task Force in the College of Social Sciences<\/a>, Kauweloa has been leading the UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa esports team since its inception. He has transformed the program to become the best in the nation in just two years.<\/p>\n

He has also spearheaded curriculum initiatives in the esports industry, which is projected to reach $1.38 billion in global esports revenue in 2022<\/a>, up from $1.08 billion in 2021. UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa now offers an internship credit course for students who volunteered during the Overwatch League tournaments, and Kauweloa also helped launch a three-course esports series in the College of Social Sciences.<\/p>\n

Visit the UH<\/abbr> esports team\u2019s Twitter<\/a> and Discord<\/a> pages. More stories on UH<\/abbr>\u2019s esports program<\/a>.<\/p>\n

—By Marc Arakaki<\/em><\/p>\n

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The @UHEsport wins Esports Collegiate Program of the Year Presented by @BlinkfireStats!<\/p>\n

— Esports Awards (@esportsawards) December 12, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n