UAlbany Awards First Esports Scholarships: A Q&A with Dylan Tarace and Jesenia Mathew

UAlbany students Dylan Tarace and Jesenia Mathew stand in front of a UAlbany eSports banner inside the competitive video gaming arena at Draper Hall.

ALBANY, N.Y. (Nov. 1, 2022) — Fresh off winning the Eastern College Athletic Conference’s Fall 2021 Esports Commissioner’s Cup, the University at Albany has hit the ground running this semester in competitive video gaming.

Through the leadership of Michael Leczinsky, director and head coach, UAlbany eSports has recruited 200 students. It is among the largest collegiate programs in the country, fielding teams in more than a dozen games offered by the ECAC and SUNY: Overwatch 2, League of Legends, Fortnite, Rocket League, Rainbow Six, Call of Duty, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Madden, NBA2k, FIFA, Valorant, Knockout City and more.

To meet the team’s growing needs, UAlbany is building a new facility on the Uptown Campus. It will feature 53 high-performance gaming PCs, 15 console stations, a broadcasting/media creation room, and a large spectator area for fans. Verizon also recently awarded the team $10,000 that will be used toward new gaming consoles, games, headsets and other equipment as needed.

In addition, a new merit scholarship was launched for select incoming UAlbany eSports freshmen. The award is equal to $1,000 per academic year and can be combined with any other received scholarships or need-based aid for which students might qualify.

Six students were awarded the first scholarships this semester — including Dylan Tarace, a computer science major, and Jesenia Mathew, an emergency preparedness, homeland security and cybersecurity major.

We caught up with them to learn about their interest in competitive video gaming and joining UAlbany’s national championship-winning team.

How did you get into competitive gaming? Was it a motivating factor when applying to colleges?

Dylan: My high school (Washingtonville) had an established esports team that I joined my freshman year. I was part of the Rocket League team, a game that I had never played before. After lots of practice, I ended up being elected team captain my junior year and our team made it into the state playoffs three times. My senior year, we played the first in-person New York High School Esports Championship at UAlbany. It was really cool to be able to write history. The visit to campus also solidified my decision to enroll at UAlbany, knowing they had the resources and facilities to foster my love for competitive gaming.

Jesenia: I’ve never been on an actual team. But I’ve been playing video games since I was little, probably around elementary school. I saw that UAlbany’s team won the ECAC Commissioner’s Cup, and they are building a new arena. They also compete Valorant, the game I play. I loved all of it and decided UAlbany was the right place for me.

ECAC trophies lined up inside of UAlbany's competitive video gaming arena. — *UAlbany won the Fall 2021 ECAC Esports Commissioner’s Cup, an award recognizing the program that achieved the most success across all conference video game competitions.*

The global eSports industry is now valued at more than $1 billion. Why do you think it has seen such huge growth?

Dylan: I think it’s a generational difference. My parents, who grew up before video games were as popular as they are now, have a hard time understanding that what I do is competitive. Now that our generation is growing up, the competitive aspect is becoming more accepted. People who play video games enjoy watching others who are the best at them. It is similar to the entertainment and professionalism you get from watching other sports.

Jesenia: I also agree with the generational differences. With all the advances in technology and gaming, you need mechanical skills and good decision making to be successful, it’s not just luck. If you’re good enough, you can now make a living off competitive gaming now. I think that’s a big reason for its rise in popularity.

UAlbany eSports students Dylan Tarace and Jesenia Mathew seated at high-performance gaming PCs inside the competitive video gaming arena at Draper Hall. — *Dylan Tarace (left) and Jesenia Mathew are among the first six students who were awarded UAlbany eSports scholarships.*

What are your career aspirations after graduating? Do you plan on staying connected to the gaming industry?

Dylan: After college, I’d like to get hired in the private industry for penetration testing, which is when you simulate cyber attacks against your software to check for vulnerabilities. As for my involvement with the gaming industry, there could be opportunities to work for a company that produces video games, such as Rocket League, and help test their servers. No matter what direction I go in though, I’ll stay connected with competitive video gaming in some way. Even if it’s just a hobby.

Jesenia: My dream job would be to work in the gaming industry, possibly in game design. If that does not work out, I am also interested in cybersecurity, working for either a government agency or gaming company.

What advice do you have for students who are interested in competitive video gaming?

Dylan: Try whatever seems interesting to you. Obviously, you will not be as good as the professionals that you watch, at least initially. But, you’ll have fun and improve over time. It’s an opportunity to learn, make friends, and enjoy a new experience.

Jesenia: Just go for it. For the game I play, Valorant, UAlbany has seven different teams that range from the highest level of experience to beginner. You do not have to be an expert to play competitively. Just have fun, enjoy the experience, and remember that you’ll continue to improve over time. There’s always another game to play.