ESPORTS

/// NatioNal RuNNeR-up iN iNauguRal SeaSoN

In its inaugural year, the HU Esports Overwatch team splashed onto the scene this spring to be deemed the Navigators Division: National Runner-Up at the NECC National Tournament. HU went 2-1 over the course of the three-day tourney, winning eight of 14 maps.

The Foresters’ road to the big stage included going 3-0 in the divisional playoffs, where HU won all but one of 11 maps to earn the title of Navigators Yellow: Grand Finals Champion.

Spring’s nine-week regular season saw the Forester squad go undefeated at 9-0, winning 27 of 32 maps. When all was said and done, HU had claimed a 14-1 record and logged more than 100 practice hours throughout the semester.

The National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) began sponsoring esports in the fall of 2020 and currently sponsors both regular season competition and championships to over 100 colleges and universities throughout the country.

In addition to the Overwatch team, the Foresters have two teams that play Rocket League and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. These squads competed in the Great Lakes Esports Conference (GLEC) in the 2021-2022 academic year.

Huntington University’s 2021-2022 Overwatch team included • Zachariah Lail (ProZach), Team Captain • Tyler Brown (TBrain) • David Dowling (XMychal) • Josiah Gold (Jynjer) • Derek Harper (TrashBoat) • Ericka Whitman (Doxic) • Joshua Thomas (MelodicCrow), Alternate

about oveRwatch ///

HU’s video game of choice is Overwatch, a 2016 team-based multiplayer first-person shooter game developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment. Teams of six select from a large roster of characters (“heroes”) with unique abilities and powers. The goal is to put together the right crew to accomplish the multiple objectives within a given map.

A map is the physical location where a match is held between the two teams. Each map has a different layout and ambiance and requires various strategies from both the offense and defense. Although the map changes, the objective of the game does not change.

FIRST FULBRIGHT STUDENT SCHOLAR IN UNIVERSITY HISTORY

HU senior and esports player Zachariah Lail spent summer 2022 in Canada through the Fulbright Scholar Program working on a research project that combined esports and psychology. These are a few of his thoughts on the experience.

Award: Fulbright Canada – Mitacs Globalink Internship Research Project: Examination of Gambling Participation Among Esports Athletes

Why did you apply?

I wanted to get some on-the-ground experience in the field of psychology, and this was a perfect way to get myself in the ring. It is also really good experience to have on your resume, given the few number of people who have the opportunity to be a part of it.

What is your project about?

We are exploring whether trends of gambling behaviors are present in collegiate esports players, like we see in other collegiate athletics. We are using a survey design and will be surveying undergraduate students and collegiate esports players.

What did your time in Canada look like?

Monday through Thursday I was in the lab, in person with my co-researchers. Fridays were online days. Aside from working, the rest of my time was spent having lunch with strangers and exploring Toronto with the friends I had met there.

What is the most meaningful thing you’re taking away from this experience?

There are so many things that I am taking away from this experience! However, I’d say that the most meaningful thing is that sometimes, to thrive in a new place, you just have to put yourself out there and be willing to share your genuine self with others. I met all kinds of incredible people in Toronto, and heard really cool stories. Being willing to embrace the unknown, especially in a new place where you don’t know anyone, can really be where the coolest, most meaningful experiences lie.

We added new buildings and renovated existing ones

Welcome Center in the Merillat Centre for the Arts HU Arizona Institute for Christian Thought & Practice Institute for Christian Thought & Practice

Academic Center for Excellence Step Forward Wrap-Up Don Strauss Animal Science Education Center Ware Plant Science Production Facility HUB UB Launch in downtown Huntington

Huntington University is pleased and humbled to announce that the Step Forward Comprehensive Campaign launched in the fall of 2014 has shattered all campaign goals and raised a total of $56,623,840. This is $22 million more than the original campaign goal, and it is the largest campaign in University history.

In 2014, the Huntington University Board of Trustees approved a comprehensive campaign of $34 million. The endowment The endowment The endowment Fast forward to today and the campaign results. increased by increased by increased by Since the fall of 2014, Huntington University has invested more than the projected $7.9 million in capital projects, including (but not limited to) 50% 50% 50%

Three Rivers Farm Forest Glen Park stadium and turf

Lake Sno-Tip enhancements ($12.5 million) gifts of a million dollars or more donors became Pacese er Society members 2,281 donors on average per year $5.8 million in new contributions $6.7 million in market gains through fiscal year 2020-2021

Total enrollment increased by 6.37% The Forester Fund reached $4.3 million surpassing the $4.2 million goal for student scholarships Data through April 30, 2022

($12.5 million) ($12.5 million)

$5.8 million in new contributions $5.8 million in new contributions $6.7 million in market gains $6.7 million in market gains

“For those of us in the room when that was decided, that was a large goal and, frankly, a pretty daunting one,” said Tom Clounie, Advancement Committee chair. “And it had a ticking clock on it. We knew this campaign was intended to wrap up in 2022 as part of the University’s 125th birthday year.”

That $34 million figure included six capital projects and nine new academic program launches in addition to growing the endowment and scholarship funds. Prior to taking the campaign public, the campaign had already funded the 2015 renovations to Forest Glen Park, the 2016 construction of the new Welcome Center, and the 2017 completion of the Ware Plant Science Production Facility, but that was only the beginning.

“Seeing the faithfulness of God in this campaign and the success of the campaign to date, in the fall of 2019, on the recommendation of the Board of Trustees, the Step Forward Campaign goal was increased to $40 million,” said Clounie.

• New occupational therapy labs • Renovations at HU Arizona to create space for an entire OTD program location • The reconfiguration of the Nursing Lab in Dowden Science Hall • The Forest Glen renovations and new turf project • The reimagination of the student center (known as the HUB) • The construction of the Welcome Center as part of the Merillat Centre for the Arts • The Ware Plant Science Production Facility addition to Dowden Science Hall • The construction of the Don Strauss Animal Science Education Center • The creation of the esports competition lab • The updates to the sand volleyball court and construction of the pavilion • The UB Launch renovation

Academic Center for Excellence Academic Center for Excellence

Three Rivers Farm Three Rivers Farm Don Strauss Animal Don Strauss Animal Science Education Center Science Education Center Ware Plant Science Production Facility Ware Plant Science Production Facility HUB HUB

Forest Glen Park stadium and turf Forest Glen Park stadium and turf Lake Sno-Tip enhancements Lake Sno-Tip enhancements

The endowment increased by 9 gifts of a million dollars or more 2,281 donors on average per year donors became Pacese er Society members The Forester Fund reached $4.3 million surpassing the $4.2 million goal for student scholarships Total enrollment increased by 6.37%$5.8 million in new contributions $6.7 million in market gains ($12.5 million) 50% through fiscal year 2020-2021 The endowment increased by 9 gifts of a million dollars or more 2,281 donors on average per year donors became Pacese er Society members The Forester Fund reached $4.3 million surpassing the $4.2 million goal for student scholarships Total enrollment increased by 6.37%$5.8 million in new contributions $6.7 million in market gains ($12.5 million) 50% through fiscal year 2020-2021 The endowment increased by 9 gifts of a million dollars or more 2,281 donors on average per year donors became Pacese er Society members The Forester Fund reached $4.3 million surpassing the $4.2 million goal for student scholarships Total enrollment increased by 6.37%$5.8 million in new contributions $6.7 million in market gains ($12.5 million) 50% through fiscal year 2020-2021 As a comprehensive campaign, Step Forward surpassed additional campaign goals. Below are some key examples. • $5.8 million has been added to the University endowment. That’s over $1.8 million more than the goal. And the overall endowment during the campaign years (2014-2022) has increased by 50%. • $3.8 million has been invested in launching five new academic programs, including Data through April 30, 2022 Data through April 30, 2022 Data through April 30, 2022 ◦ The Doctoral Program in Occupational Therapy — one of the first in the country ◦ The Bachelor of Science degree in occupational therapy assistant — the first in the country ◦ The Bachelor of Science degree in engineering ◦ The Master of Business Administration degree ◦ 12 degree specializations in agriculture • Nearly $1.2 million has been invested in academic upgrades and improvements, including ◦ Additional academic classroom resources ($250K) ◦ Anatomage Tables ($300K) ◦ Agriculture tractors/trucks/ equipment ($400K) ◦ Technology ($200K) • $4.3 million has been raised toward the Forester Fund, HU’s student scholarship fund, which provides financial assistance for over 90% of the University’s traditional undergraduate students; every single dollar raised for that Fund goes directly toward student scholarships • $4.8 million has been invested in personnel and employee compensation • Overall enrollment has increased by 12.7% • 396 Foresters have graduated from HU thanks directly to Step Forward Campaign programs

“The results of this campaign allow HU to move forward faster to accomplish the mission God has called us to do,” said Dr. Sherilyn Emberton, president of Huntington University. “God’s faithfulness to the University through challenging times and a global pandemic is beyond evident in this campaign, not only in the capital projects completed and the dollars raised, but more importantly in the lives impacted. Nearly 400 additional graduates earned HU degrees as a direct result of this campaign. That’s a powerful statement to the steps of faith taken by so many since 2014.”