Anderson University Prepares for Esports Extravaganza
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Anderson, Ind. — On Tuesday, April 20, at 8 p.m. EST, Anderson University will be hosting an Esports Extravaganza to promote the grand opening of its esports lab and the completion of its first competitive season. The event will take place virtually on the university’s Twitch channel, and will be a celebration of the AU esports team and its goals for this next year.
Esports, or intercollegiate video game teams, allows students to do what they love while developing skills for future professional endeavors, such as streaming, coding, graphics, technology, business, marketing, and more. AU’s esports team brings students together with a shared purpose, and teaches them to play with honor, lose with dignity, and be part of a unified team that’s energized and excited to accomplish its goals.
The Extravaganza will be produced by Kris Renas, director of studio and technical operations, and many of his students within AU’s Department of Communication and Design Arts. As part of the event, Head Coach Matthew Burnstedt and some of the esports team will play Smash Bros, and the university mascot, Rodney the Raven, is also expected to join in. The broadcast will provide details about how to link an Amazon Prime account to Prime gaming — which is free for those who already have Amazon Prime — and will be raising funds to support the growth of the program.
“I’m proud to say that the entire team showed considerable growth from day one in several ways, and I would be wrong if I stated that it was solely because of myself,” said Burnstedt. “By every way imaginable, the growth of our team should be considered a successful collective effort. The players themselves are nothing short of incredible — all great individuals who are proper representatives of AU. I’m humbled by the fact that they bring such eagerness and positive energy to the team. I couldn’t have asked for a better group of students.”
“The dedication of the esports lab is a wonderful moment for AU,” said Marcie Taylor, AU’s athletic director. “This space enables us to create an environment where students are excited to come together and grow through practice and competition. The inaugural season of the esports program has been successful and a source of pride for the campus community.”
Within the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC), AU’s esports team finished 7-3 in both Rocket League and League of Legends. After qualifying for the playoffs in its first season, the team progressed to round two for Rocket League and round one for League of Legends, and is excited to see where next year will take them. Incoming students interested in joining the AU esports team in the fall of 2021 can fill out the university’s recruitment form.
“Esports isn’t just about competition — it can help prepare students for careers in any field,” said Taylor. “It requires critical and creative thinking, teamwork, problem-solving, leadership, strategic planning, and analytical processing. We are looking forward to the continued growth of the program under the direction of Head Coach Matthew Burnstedt.”
Anderson University is on a mission to educate students for lives of faith and service, offering more than 60 undergraduate majors, 30 three-year degrees, 20 NCAA Division III intercollegiate sports, alongside adult and graduate programs. The private, liberal arts institution is fully accredited and recognized among top colleges for its business, computer science, cybersecurity, dance, engineering, nursing, and teacher education programs. Anderson University was established in 1917 in Anderson, Indiana, by the Church of God.