NW Valley Times

Grand Canyon University (GCU) Esports has extended its influence globally, focusing on health and wellness in the esports community. Esports supervisor Tyler Galvin and director Jay DeShong visited Saudi Arabia to promote exercise and a nutritious diet among esports athletes at the International Esports Federation World Championship.

DeShong emphasized the importance of fitness within esports culture: “Exercise is not ingrained in the esports culture,” he said. “We wanted to teach players, coaches, delegates at the country level, why wellness matters and how it relates to performance.”

The trip provided an opportunity for GCU Esports to share insights on transitioning from club-based activities to more structured scholastic programs. DeShong noted that many clubs aspire to become scholastic but lack guidance: “Most esports are clubs, and a lot of them want to become scholastic, but they don’t know how,” he explained.

Founded in 2015 with six computers, GCU Esports gained momentum after excelling in ESPN's Overwatch College Esports Championship in 2019. The program now boasts an arena with over 70 PCs and various gaming consoles. It supports around 1,900 students who can compete through a formal application process.

Galvin highlighted facility limitations due to increased interest: “I think if you plug in one more phone charger, we might blow a fuse,” he remarked. The program focuses on recruiting students from high schools and other institutions.

Esports recently joined GCU’s College of Arts and Media, allowing students to develop game design skills alongside competitive gaming opportunities. Partnerships like Summit Games offer internships for aspiring game designers.

DeShong pointed out that esports engages diverse interests beyond just gaming: “Esports engages everybody on a college campus," he stated.

Alex Rowland, a digital design graduate now serving as the esports production manager, credits her role with broadening her production knowledge: "Esports gave me the opportunity to grow as a manager," she shared.

The growing community continues welcoming new members while providing avenues for skill development across multiple facets of gaming culture.