The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa esports program is one of the top 10 best collegiate esports programs in the nation, and it could become No. 1 with the help from the community. The public can vote for UH Mānoa on the Esports Awards website until November 10. The winner, which will be determined by an esports panel of experts (75%) and public vote (25%), will be announced at the Esports Stadium in Arlington, Texas on November 20. UH Mānoa esports representatives have also been invited to attend the in-person ceremony.
UH Mānoa was nominated by its peers across the country as one of 10 finalists for the award. The program has experienced its best year since it began in 2019, earning national recognition for several of its teams, including winning its first collegiate tournament competing in the game Valorant; and becoming the first higher education institution to host Overwatch League regular season tournaments, playoffs and grand finals.
“This past year has really shown that if we can put the resources and Hawaiʻi community behind it, we can really make an impact and showcase that Hawaiʻi esports is not just here to participate but we’re here to do good things for our students,” said Kevin Nguyen, UH Mānoa esports program assistant and spring 2019 communications graduate.
UH Mānoa esports accomplishments
The Valorant team won UH Mānoa’s first ever collegiate title in any esports game. In October 2021, UH won the National Association of Collegiate Esports StarLeague in Valorant championship, going undefeated in the bracket tournament.
The UH Mānoa Overwatch team was crowned champions of United Gaming Clans season 14 (first team championship win in an amateur contest). Teams in League of Legends, Rainbow Six Siege, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Rocket League are building on strong seasons