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Champlain Esports

Contact Esports Program Director Christian Konczal

Following the growth and success of the Champlain College Esports club, Champlain Esports has elevated its efforts to promote student interests and take competitive gaming to the next level! We are evolving Champlain Esports from one of the largest clubs on campus to a fully fledged, comprehensive program that offers experiential learning opportunities for all interested students, regardless of individual skill level.

We are excited and proud to be one of the first higher ed institutions in Vermont to offer competitive gaming at a Varsity level, and to be the first to build a facility fully dedicated to our student's pursuit of esports excellence.

Click the link below to visit our Champlain Esports website, where you can learn about the teams, facilities, opportunities for students, and more! Interested in competing or getting involved? Contact Esports Director Christian Konczal at ckonczal@champlain.edu.

Visit the Esports Site

Competition

This wouldn't be an esports program without some competition! To facilitate our student's passion for individual growth and to serve students along the entire spectrum of skill, we have two different ways that students can engage with the competitive aspects of the program:

Varsity—For the best and the hungry; if you think you have what it takes to represent Champlain at this level and have the drive to consistently better yourself, then our Varsity teams are for you! This is our most competitive program.
Club Teams—For teams and players who are new to the world of competitive gaming and want to see what it's all about.

Supported Games

We currently support over a dozen teams for the following titles:

League of Legends
Rainbow 6 Siege
Valorant
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Melee
Rocket League
Apex Legends
Beat Saber
Overwatch
Counter Strike: Global Offensive

Facilities

The Champlain Esports Facility is filled with cutting edge game PCs and modern consoles all available for competitive and recreational use by Champlain students and CCE club members. As long as you are in good academic standing, you'll be able to swing down to the Miller Center at Lakeside to play AAA titles, create multi-media content, or reserve space to play with your friends!

16 Open PC Stations
7 Competitive PC Stations
3 Console Stations
2 Content Creation Stations
Game Lounge

Game Studio

Many of our team members at Champlain Esports are enrolled in courses in the Champlain Game Studio. The Game Studio at Champlain College is the premier destination for students who want to prepare for a career in game development in a real-world setting that mirrors how the professional game industry actually works. Our industry-expert faculty will guide you through the rigorous courses that will hone your skills as you work on a team with other game students and construct fully functional games that you can download, play, and share. By graduation, you'll be prepared to succeed in a rewarding career in game development.

Learn More on Our Game Studio Website

Group of students working on a computer project together

More Than Playing Games

Esports team playing competitive games

Opportunities Beyond Competing

At Champlain, esports is so much more than just playing games competitively! Our focus is on imparting hard and soft skills that position our students for career success. We offer opportunities across divisions and majors to build a comprehensive and student-led program, including:

Broadcast Production
Video Production
Marketing and Brand Development
Video Production
Team Leadership
Event Coordination
Facility Management

Esports students playing competitively

Student Benefits

We understand that committing to a program like Champlain Esports takes time and effort, and we want to support all students involved in the program. Our program has a number of opportunities and perks for participants. All Champlain students participating on teams or as staff will have access to:

Athletic Scholarships
The Lakeside Esports Facility
CCE Broadcasting Suite
Work Study and Internship Positions
Intramural and Recreational events

3 Ways to Get Involved

PLAY

Compete, coach, or manage esports teams at club level or competitive collegiate events.

PRODUCE

Assist in the production of Champlain Esports events through event planning, social media promotion, broadcasting, and more.

SUPPORT

Support our teams! Attend events in person or virtually through Twitch streams and show your love for the players and organization.

Champlain Esports Frequently Asked Questions

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What is esports?

Esports is competitive gaming, or electronic sports. Much like traditional sports, esports consists of teams built of players, coaches, analysts, ownership groups, management teams, and more.

Similarly to traditional sports, esports are represented across different skill levels from local and regional competitions, to collegiate varsity leagues and professional global organizations.

Link to this FAQ

What is Champlain Esports?

Champlain Esports is a student run organization that supports competitive esports teams at the collegiate level. Teams, tournaments, and events are open and inclusive to the entire Champlain community. Our goals include:

Find success and fulfillment for our players to help them reach their goals
Make Champlain College a competitor in the growing world of collegiate esports
Foster a community of students of any major or year to rally behind their peers

Link to this FAQ

How can I get involved?

There are three ways to get yourself involved with Champlain Esports — as Staff, Players, and Community.

Staff is the management and corporate function (social media, event planning, broadcast, etc).
Players are on the teams directly, either as managers or as a player through tryouts.
Community is where you can come and enjoy the community events and tournaments that we do in person, or join in team watch parties live on Twitch.

Link to this FAQ

Why should I get involved with Champlain Esports?

Champlain Esports offers a variety of social and professional opportunities. Students involved with the program will be able to gain valuable experience and qualify for scholarships and work study/internship programs, as well as ingrain themselves into the Champlain community.

Link to this FAQ

Do I need to be good at games to be a part of Champlain Esports?

Absolutely not! There are several ways for students to get involved with Champlain Esports without playing for one of our competitive teams. Champlain Esports has student positions in a variety of areas including event planning, broadcast, social media, graphic design, and project management. Additionally, students can choose to participate solely in casual community events.

Link to this FAQ

How do I create a team?

All you need is a manager, interested players, and a competitive league to play in. If you can meet all of those criteria, then you will work with the Competitive Coordinator to create a new team. More details can be found here.

Link to this FAQ

It's made me much more invested in my future. Genuinely, if it was not for esports, I don't know where I would be in terms of determination about my future. I like Champlain Esports because they recognized potential and interest and were willing to take a risk on someone with zero relevant experience.

Damien Royer, Apex Manager, Game Production Management Major, '23