Grand Canyon University (GCU) has partnered with the United States Academic Esports League (USAEL) to introduce an esports grant for high schools nationwide. The grant is designed to provide competitive and academic esports opportunities to qualifying schools by amplifying access to USAEL's competitive and academic resources, promoting GCU’s commitment to the esports community. The grant application opens on December 12, and schools will have until December 22, 2023, to apply. Winners will be announced on Jan 2, 2024. The grant application can be accessed here.
“This partnership sets the stage to help high schools across the country launch esports programs, establishing hubs to teach valuable skills to set students up for future careers,” said Rally Cry CEO Adam Rosen. “GCU’s commitment to infrastructure and community building makes them a perfect partner for the USA.”
At the core of the partnership, grant recipients will have unlimited access to the USAEL esports program and resources. This includes an industry-vetted competition platform, a robust academic curriculum, as well as a pathway for schools to harness the college and career opportunities available to esports athletes. The competition platform offers features to facilitate roster management, team formation, competition registration, scheduling, matchmaking, score reporting, and other functions necessary to facilitate esports leagues seamlessly. The academic curriculum includes over 120 hours of video-based lessons focused on STEM and esports career exploration, starting, running, and competing with an esports team, as well as lessons to promote hard and soft skills, among other topics.
The integration of esports in academic settings, championed by organizations like USAEL and GCU, has gained a lot of momentum and recognition, further highlighting the positive impact of academic esports on student development. This partnership reflects a significant shift in education, where students’ passion for video games is harnessed and channeled into college and career opportunities.
About
About Grand Canyon University:
Grand Canyon University was founded in 1949 and is Arizona’s premier private Christian university. GCU is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and offers 312 academic programs, emphases and certificates for both traditional undergraduate students and working professionals. The University’s curriculum emphasizes interaction with classmates, both in-person and online, and individual attention from instructors while fusing academic rigor with Christian values to help students find their purpose and become skilled, caring professionals. For more information, visit gcu.edu.
About USAEL:
The United States Academic Esports League (USAEL) is a leading provider of esports curriculum, committed to enhancing the academic experience of students through the power of gaming. With a focus on competition, curriculum, and careers, USAEL aims to revolutionize education by integrating gaming into the classroom. Learn more at www.usacademicesports.com
