Syracuse Sun

This past academic year served as “Year Zero” for Syracuse University’s esports program, which includes an academic degree program starting this fall and competitive teams that vie for national championships in their respective games.

Students game in the esports room at the Barnes Center at The Arch.

The program’s first year was notable as Syracuse won the Emerging Program of the Year Award at the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) National Convention from July 17-19 in Winter Park, Florida, just outside of Orlando.

In addition to the program award, two Syracuse University students—Kamron Manii ’24 and Braeden Cheverie-Leonard ’26—won awards, and five other representatives from Syracuse were named award finalists.

“In year zero, Syracuse University esports was nominated and recognized across the board from students to staff for their contributions to the overall collegiate esports industry,” says Joey Gawrysiak, executive director of the esports degree program. “We are proud of what we are building here at Syracuse and want to continue to push the boundaries of what is possible by a collegiate esports program.”

Syracuse’s program employs a holistic, experiential learning-based approach that prepares students for career success in various industries, leveraging the largest collection of faculty and staff members of any esports program on a college campus. The esports communications and management degree, offered jointly by the Newhouse School of Public Communications and the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, is among the first of its kind at a major university.

NACE is the only nonprofit membership association of colleges and universities with varsity esports programs. Over 260 schools across the United States and Canada compete for NACE championships every year across a variety of esports titles. This past spring, Syracuse captured the NACE Counter-Strike 2 national championship.

Here’s more about Syracuse’s award winners from the 2024 NACE National Convention:

Emerging Program of the Year: This award is presented to a program that has been active for two years or less, is on the path to excellence, and has displayed outstanding achievements competitively, academically or within their community. Syracuse checked all these boxes. Gawrysiak describes the program’s successful first year in an episode of “’Cuse Conversations” podcast.

Player of the Year (Counter-Strike 2): Manii, who majored in forensic science and psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences, received this award as a student-athlete who showed outstanding impact both on and off-game while leading his team in multiple ways.

Student Leadership Award: Braeden Cheverie-Leonard, a sport management major in Falk College received this honor for demonstrating exceptional leadership among his peers and exhibiting outstanding contributions to his collegiate esports community. In this campus tour video, Cheverie-Leonard takes viewers on a whirlwind tour including favorite spots like Barnes Center's esports room.

Here are additional finalists:

Broadcast Talent of The Year: Daniel Saligman ’27 was recognized as a finalist for bringing insight and electricity as an on-air talent during broadcasts.

Coach Of The Year (Counter-Strike 2): Director Of Esports Competition Travis Yang was acknowledged as finalist due to his abilities both competitively & holistically developing teams under coaching capacity

Support Staff Of The Year: Program Manager Nikita Bair earned recognition being finalist showcasing mentorship/leadership contributing towards overall success

Emerging Director Of The Year: Director Production Outreach Sean Kelly marked place amongst finalists portraying capabilities enhancing programs be it competitive/academe/community-wise

Scholar Of The Year: Lindsey Darvin assistant professor department sports management emerged leader advocating equity inside esport/computer gaming sectors discussing research impacts via Q&A highlighting course essentials needed under major requisites race/gender/diversity sporting organizations.

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