Written by Chris Griebenow
This year, we were able to recognize twelve passionate students for their dedication and contributions to furthering gaming and esports on the UC San Diego campus and the collegiate esports space as a whole. Representing both the competitive and social organizations centered around gaming, these students will be the recipients of a $1500 scholarship made possible by various alumni, donors, and our corporate partner, Turtle Beach/ROCCAT. We are so grateful for the continued support of our community as this would not be possible without them.
These scholarships represent more than just financial aid. While reducing financial barriers for some of the recipients, they are more of a tangible recognition of the contributions of a variety of students who have demonstrated the commitment and leadership it takes to pursue and elevate gaming on campus. They have also enhanced the already immense value that esports and gaming can have on a student’s experience and sense of belonging during their time at UC San Diego. Many students face challenges in balancing their academic endeavors, pursuing collegiate employment or internships, as well as their zeal for gaming and esports, and these scholarships alleviate some of the burdens they may face, allowing them to focus on their studies and pursue their passions. For others, these scholarships validate their amazing contributions and dedication to a community that is still widely misunderstood. It’s opportunities like these that will continue to legitimize esports and gaming for students, faculty, staff, parents, and community through connections to academic success, career development, and more.
UC San Diego Recreation would also like to express its deepest gratitude to Turtle Beach/ROCCAT for providing us with five $1,500 scholarships for the second year in a row, on top of the peripheral support that they already provide for our students and the Triton Esports Center. Their generosity demonstrates their unwavering commitment to fostering academic excellence and enhancing the gaming culture and campus experience at UC San Diego.
Without further ado, we are thrilled to showcase the 2022-2023 recipients of the Esports Scholarship:
Aaron Tung ‘24
Environmental Systems - Ecology, Behavior, & Evolution
UCSD Esports Marketing Director, Overwatch Student-Athlete, & Esports Assistant
Andrew Harris ‘24
Bioengineering
Dota 2 Team Manager & Student-Athlete
Colin Li ‘25
Computer Science
League of Legends Student-Athlete
Support by Turtle Beach/ROCCAT
Jackson Vu ‘24
General Biology
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Student-Athlete
Sam Duzen ‘25
Aerospace Engineering
Rocket League Student-Athlete & Esports Assistant
Ashley Omiya ‘25
Business Psychology
Triton Gaming Officer
Brandon Chen ‘23
Computer Science
Triton Gaming Officer
Cynthia Gao ‘24
Computer Science
UCSD Esports Officer & Esports Lead
E.J. Yu ‘23
Cognitive Science - Design & Interaction
Splatoon Support Staff
Jade Chambers ‘25
Japanese Studies
Vice President of UCSD Esports
Jordan Nishi ‘24
Cognitive Science - Machine Learning
Triton Gaming Live Events Director
Samantha Ivezich ‘23
Human Biology & Philosophy
President of Triton Gaming