UHV Esports club receives donation from Formosa
The University of Houston-Victoria’s Jaguar Esports Club recently received a $5,000 donation from Formosa Plastics Corporation, Texas that will allow the organization to host larger events and recruit more students.
The donation is being used to purchase equipment that the students will use to expand their capacity and capabilities. The new equipment will allow more students to participate in events and make it possible for the club to record and produce digital media that can be used for social media outreach and attract new gaming enthusiasts to join their growing community.
“We were surprised to receive this gift from Formosa,” said Peter Ifeduba, a senior computer science major and president of the club. “This donation is allowing us to lay a foundation for future members who can carry on the work and tournaments we’ve started. It’s a great investment in UHV and its students.”
In the past, the club has relied on individual members to bring their own gaming consoles and equipment to help prepare for and host events, said Randall Jasek, a UHV senior network administrator and co-advisor for the club. With this donation, the club will have its own dedicated equipment, significantly enhancing its ability to provide unique experiences at events and accommodate larger groups of attendees.
“It is great to see a company that has been part of our region and community for years contribute to UHV and its students,” Jasek said. “My family lives near Palacios, and some of them work for Formosa. Formosa is an anchor in my hometown, so I’m grateful for them also supporting us here as well.”
The group has already purchased some equipment with the donation and is busy making plans for future events, Jasek said. The club is partnering with the City of Victoria and Collectors Trading Company to broadcast a tournament in November, hosting a tournament exclusively for high school students in December, and partnering with City of Victoria again to host a tournament for the TAAF Winter Games in February.
“Esports is a fun way for students to exercise strategic thinking, engage in teamwork and further develop technical skills,” said Mike Rivet, Formosa Plastics Corporation, Texas assistant vice president & general manager. “We also see a correlation between people who enjoy gaming and those who pursue information technology roles, an in-demand career field in our region. Formosa is pleased to support the exciting and unique, hands-on learning opportunities that the club provides. By promoting enjoyable learning environments, we can help enhance the future success of these students in whichever career paths they choose to pursue.”
The donation is offering students more benefits than just the ability to play with more people and sharpen their gaming skills, Jasek said. The projects the students do to prepare for tournaments and other events are things that can be used in future resumes or portfolios to show the students’ experience when they are looking for jobs.
“Formosa Plastics is a great community partner for many organizations in our area,” said Amber Countis, UHV vice president for advancement and external relations. “We are thrilled and thankful to receive this gift to support our growing eSports program at UHV. I am impressed with the vision and inspiration of those internally investing time and effort in this unique program and so appreciative of Formosa for recognizing the impact and creativity of UHV Esports and being a leader in supporting us.”
For Ifeduba, Esports offers more than just a place to come together and play video games. The Houston resident played football and was in track in high school. Once he came to college, eSports was a place for him to channel that energy and work with a new kind of team.
“Being part of an Esports team takes dedication, practice and the determination to never give up,” he said. “In a way, it’s very similar to regular sports, especially when it comes to working as a team and under pressure. I’m grateful to Formosa for investing in our team and helping us reach new goals through this donation.”
The University of Houston-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 50 academic programs in the schools of Arts & Sciences; Business Administration; and Education, Health Professions & Human Development. UHV provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as an instructional site in Katy, Texas, and online classes that students can take from anywhere. UHV supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.