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SCHENECTADY, NY (March 14, 2019) – Gaming Insomniacs League (GIL) announced today that it is hosting a $5000 High School Scholarship eSports Tournament at Proctors Theater in Schenectady on May 18, 2019 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and May 19, 2019 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
“We are very excited about hosting the first high school eSports tournament in the Capital Region. It is a great opportunity for the students to represent their respective schools on a competitive platform never before seen in the entire Northeastern region of the United States.” Shane Batcher, Director of Operations for Gaming Insomniacs.
1st place, 2nd place, and 3rd place will be rewarded with scholarship money that students can apply toward college tuition and textbooks.
Regional school districts already committed and confirmed to participate in the tournament include Johnstown CSD, Foothills PTECH Academy, Broadalbin CSD and Rensselaer CSD. Other local school districts are encouraged to participate.
There is maximum of 16 teams for tournament slots and the deadline for school districts to register is April 26, 2019. Registration is free for the schools to get involved. They will be required to provide teams with a minimum of 5 players each, and also have a faculty member to represent them and serve as a point of contact. Gaming Insomniacs supports both PS4 and Xbox 1 platforms. Players are allowed to bring their own controllers and headsets, but it is not a requirement.
“Proctors is excited to partner with Gaming Insomniacs League on this fantastic new venture. We feel that acting as host venue for this inaugural tournament allows us to play a part in fostering the team work and camaraderie of eSports in our own community. We are thrilled that the league will be partnering with so many of the local high schools and present a professional atmosphere for the players to compete in,” said Salvatore Prizio, program coordinator – Proctors/Universal Preservation Hall/Rivers Casino and Resort.
Gaming Insomniacs League (GIL) is an eSports organization concentrating on league play and tournaments. They recently located their headquarters at URBAN CO-WORKS in downtown Schenectady. eSports is a multi-billion-dollar industry that is beginning to rival traditional sports in audience and viewership. According to GIL CEO Jide Osipitan, there are professional teams and Semi-Professional leagues like Gaming Insomniacs League nationwide. He notes that many colleges are starting to develop eSports teams and offer thousands of dollars in scholarships for players and said that GIL is very focused on building up high school and college leagues in the Capital Region.
“It is essential that high school students develop marketable 21st century skills that will encourage their success in college, the work force, or military. eSports fosters opportunities for students to work as a team, practice time management, improve communication skills, and develop as a leader. Our gaming club has already participated in tournaments including League of Legends, Black Ops, Madden, Fortnite, and various game marathons,” said Dylan Thomarie, eSports coordinator for the Johnstown Central School District.
“The eSports competitions allow for students who might not otherwise participate in extracurricular activities to find their place within the school community. Though one of the most popular forms of entertainment, eSports opportunities do not exist in most schools. They also support the development of teamwork, leadership, and digital citizenship in the participating scholar gamers,” said Scott Beiter, faculty member at Rensselaer Central School District.
“The Computer Science & Game Arts PTECH successfully builds gaming into interdisciplinary, project-based learning curriculum; the eSports team is a natural progression of how to utilize their learned skills and expand into career opportunities. Our students are highly motivated to attend our “gamified” school and participate in the eSports team because they feel that their interests matter and that they are part of a larger gaming community. We can see how they progress and develop their skills especially in gaming. The next step for these students is to take part in competitions,” said Kristin DuGuay, program coordinator at Foothills PTECH Academy of Computer Science & Game Arts.
For more information please visit: www.gaminginsomniacs.org, email info@gaminginsomniacs.org or call (518) 977-0220.
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Gaming Insomniacs League (GIL) is an eSports organization comprised of high school, collegiate, and semi-pro leagues and at the tip of the triangle is the GI professional League. Gaming Insomniacs utilizes a series of platforms and games across all leagues.
The high-school and collegiate leagues include a scholarship program that student players can utilize for college tuition and books. The semi-pro league is designed to build and develop players and prepare them for Gaming Insomniacs’ Pro-League. In the semi-pro league, players will play for teams like Saratoga Misfits, Oneonta Hellhounds and Schenectady Sharpshooters for games like Call of Duty and Mortal Kombat.