Esports gives students the opportunity to play, learn and earn a degree

Yana McGuire

Staff Writer

This semester, WCC offers students a new esports management certificate program geared to give enrollees a professional advantage in the world of competitive gaming. 

Gaining a certificate in esports management ensures students have the necessary skills to handle the business side of the industry, allowing competitors to focus on winning tournaments. Some of these skills include budget management, contract negotiations, marketing and branding. 

Recruiting and coaching competitors is also part of management. This isn’t as easy as it may sound. “There are players with varying skill levels and varying skill sets,” Christopher Zachow, WCC Esports Overwatch team captain, said. “Being able to be the person that helps make the decision on who gets to play–it’s pretty strategic. You are making decisions that have consequences, either good or bad.”

To keep up with an ever-evolving industry, WCC staff have been working together to ensure that students have what they need to make the right decisions. 

Max Kuznia, part-time coordinator of WCC Esports, states that plans are in the works to give enrollees real-time, hands-on experience. “One of our goals for the student development inside the esports program is to work with classrooms to get more hands-on experience in the arena,” Kuznia said. 

Michael Kidd, an instructor of an esports management course, confirmed that he has been working with Kuznia. He stated that the benefit will be that “they [students] can get a better idea of how to manage an actual fully functioning tournament that’s taking place.”

In addition, due to the hard work of the WCC staff, esports’ higher learning opportunities are soon becoming a possibility. 

Kidd states, “Anthony Terry, the esports advisor, just finished up the 3+1 agreement with Eastern University.” This program will be available soon and will allow students to be among the first groups from WCC to obtain a Bachelor’s in the industry.

WCC does not offer a scholarship for this program. However, it is still possible to get one. “There are all kinds of scholarships available across the country through different organizations. There are so many scholarships to get women interested in esports right now, too,” Kidd said. 

One of those scholarships is the Girls for Gaming Scholarship, which is offered on studentscholarships.org for $2,500 and has a deadline of Feb. 1, 2025.

For more information about esports and the program, stop by the arena located at TI 239. 

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