As esports becomes increasingly legitimized by businesses and fans, its traction with various other audiences is likewise growing. Colleges, including Robert Morris University in Chicago, now offer esports scholarships, and even ESPN is covering the new competitive domain. Summer camps and programs are also getting involved. Julian Krinsky Camps & Programs, which has provided preprofessional programs for 40 years, has created a new esports program that allows students to train with professional gamers to identify their personal strengths in gaming.
Steve Robertson, CEO of JKCP, believes it’s important for the organization’s programs to encourage collaboration among the members of Generation Z, a group that’s helping to legitimize the esports industry. Robertson observes, “Gen Z collaborate in a way that helps bridge that isolation gap.” Like many traditional sports, esports includes teams that collaborate or work together to win.
