UAF Joins National Esports League

While the UAF Nanooks hockey team competes as an independent, the students who compete in video games (or, as they prefer to call them, electronic sports) are now part of an intercollegiate league.

Esport Is a Sport

UAF is the first university in Alaska to join the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) and one of only a handful in the western United States. NACE formed in 2016 and has more than 170 members.

“Having a robust esports program is something that today’s students expect from higher education institutions,” says Owen Guthrie, UAF vice chancellor for student affairs and enrollment management. “Just like with more traditional athletics programs, students learn all kinds of valuable skills in their extracurricular activities. Teams that are able to compete and win at the highest levels must communicate effectively, work together cohesively, and refine their social and emotional skills, as well as master difficult intellectual and strategic challenges.” 

A year ago, UAF fielded its first competitive esports season playing from the Alaska Esports Center, which opened in March 2021 in the Wood Center. The facility includes twelve gaming computers, four televisions for console gaming, and 1-gigabit-per-second internet speed. The space, which is supported by a 10-year, $500,000 gift from GCI, has steadily become a campus gathering spot for both competitive and casual gamers.

This year, for the first time, UAF allocated $20,000 to scholarships for esports team members.

“Joining NACE and introducing scholarships to our teams is the first step in reaching a higher level of competition in this growing competitive field,” says UAF esports coordinator Drake Richards. “We are breaking new ground, as a college in Alaska, and making sure we stay ahead of the curve.”