IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR NBA 2K – Team GFG, right, and team Drewkerbockers, left, seen at the NBA 2K16 Road to the Finals championship event on Wednesday, June 1, 2016, in Los Angeles. Two teams of gamers go head to head during a competition that merges simulation basketball with eSports for a shot at $250,000 and […]

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – Indiana Tech is preparing to launch a varsity electronic sports (eSports) program and offer scholarships to student gamers in 2017.

Indiana Tech eSports is entering it’s second season and plans to offer 25 to 35 scholarships to varsity players to compete in the online video games “League of Legends” and “Hearthstone.” The university’s eSports teams competed last season in the Collegiate StarLeague (CSL), an eSports competition that awards over $200,000 in prizes and scholarships.

“eSports is becoming one of the fastest-growing collegiate team activities in the nation and we want to develop a highly competitive program that brings quality individuals to our community,” Indiana Tech Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Daniel Stoker said. “Elevating this program to the scholarship level allows us to be on the leading edge of collegiate eSports and engages the students in a productive and meaningful activity recreational play.”

According to a report by ESPN, eSports now draws in audiences that rival some of the biggest traditional sporting events. In 2014, market research found that 205 million people watched or participated in eSports. The industry has grown significantly since the first video game tournament, which took place at Stanford University in 1972.

As part of Indiana Tech’s eSports expansion initiative, the university is creating a new gaming arena, equipped with high-end gaming PCs, chairs, lighting, and graphics. This arena is expected to be completed in late October.

Indiana Tech is hosting a recruitment day on campus on October 28 in an effort to find talented players to help launch the program.

Indiana Tech is a founding member of the Collegiate eSports Association (CESPA) and is the first university in Indiana to offer gaming scholarships.

For more information, visit Indiana Tech eSports.

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