North Carolina Wesleyan University Esports is proud to announce its participation in a major scholarship initiative at the 2026 Game and Geek Expo in Raleigh, North Carolina. In partnership with Carolina Games Summit, Barton College, Louisburg College, and USC Upstate, more than $500,000 in esports scholarship opportunities were available to competitors across multiple tournaments.
The Game and Geek Expo, held September 5–6 at the Raleigh Convention Center, brought together gamers, families, colleges, industry professionals, and members of the gaming community for a weekend centered around competition, education, and opportunity.
Competitors participated in tournaments featuring titles including Counter-Strike 2, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Mario Kart, Forza 6, and Gran Turismo 7, creating an opportunity for talented players to showcase their skills while learning more about collegiate esports programs and scholarship opportunities.
NCWU Esports Delivers Strong Competitive Performances
North Carolina Wesleyan University Esports had a strong showing across multiple competitions throughout the weekend.
Lamont Taylor (SoulkingLJ) delivered an impressive performance in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, placing 17th out of 74 competitors in Singles. Taylor also competed in Doubles, earning a 5th-place finish out of 14 teams.
Anthony Conner and Shafiq Nuijts also represented NCWU Esports in the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Singles competition, with each finishing 49th in the 74-player bracket.
Nuijts expanded NCWU’s presence beyond Super Smash Bros. Ultimate by competing in the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Singles Finals, where he secured an impressive 8th-place finish out of 60 competitors.
These results highlight the continued growth and competitive presence of NCWU Esports across multiple titles and demonstrate the dedication of Wesleyan’s student competitors on a regional stage.
Brightspeed Support Helps NCWU Esports Travel and Compete
The continued support of Brightspeed has played an important role in giving North Carolina Wesleyan University Esports student-athletes the opportunity to travel beyond campus and represent the University at major esports competitions.
Through Brightspeed’s investment in NCWU Esports, the program has been able to help cover important travel expenses, including transportation, lodging, and meals. This support allows NCWU competitors to focus on performing at their best while gaining valuable experience competing against players from other colleges and communities.
Brightspeed’s support has already helped NCWU Esports travel to competitions on larger stages, including previous events in Texas and South Carolina. That continued investment helps make opportunities such as the Game and Geek Expo possible for NCWU students and strengthens the program’s ability to compete throughout the region and beyond.
The partnership extends beyond travel. Brightspeed’s support has contributed to scholarships, equipment upgrades, esports program travel, technology, and expanded competitive opportunities. These resources help NCWU Esports provide students with experiences that connect competition with teamwork, leadership, broadcasting, content creation, technology, and career development.
For North Carolina Wesleyan University Esports, participating in the Game and Geek Expo represents more than competition. It reflects the program’s continued commitment to creating pathways for students who want to turn their passion for gaming, esports, technology, content creation, and digital media into meaningful educational and career opportunities.
Chantoni Grant, NCWU Director of Esports, shares, “North Carolina Wesleyan University Esports is focused on showing students that esports can be much bigger than just playing video games. It can create opportunities for education, leadership, content creation, broadcasting, technology, and future careers. Being part of an event offering more than $500,000 in scholarship opportunities allows us to connect directly with students and families and show them what is possible through collegiate esports.”
The 2026 event also marked the first year that representatives from all four participating colleges were present on the show floor, allowing prospective students and their families to speak directly with college representatives while experiencing the tournaments and activities throughout the weekend.
The partnership aligns with North Carolina Wesleyan University’s commitment to hands-on learning and providing students with practical experiences that prepare them for life beyond the classroom. NCWU Esports continues to build opportunities that connect gaming with education, professional development, leadership, media, technology, and community engagement.
About North Carolina Wesleyan University Esports
North Carolina Wesleyan University Esports provides students with opportunities to compete, create, lead, and develop professional skills through the rapidly growing esports industry. The program uses gaming as a platform for experiential learning while creating opportunities in competition, broadcasting, content creation, event production, technology, leadership, and community engagement.
Through partnerships, tournaments, scholarships, and educational initiatives, NCWU Esports is working to establish North Carolina Wesleyan University as a destination for students who want to pursue their passion for gaming while earning a college education.
About Brightspeed
Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C. and with assets and associated operations in 20 states, Brightspeed provides broadband and telecommunications services through a network platform capable of serving more than 7.3 million homes and businesses. Our 4,000 employees are committed to building a future where more communities benefit from a more connected life, deploying a state-of-the-art fiber network and a customer experience that makes being connected as simple as it should be. For more information, please visit www.brightspeed.com
NC Wesleyan Esports Announces Partnership Renewal and New Scholarship Opportunity with Brightspeed
North Carolina Wesleyan University’s Bishop Gaming Association (BGA), the University’s premier esports program, is excited to announce a renewed and expanded partnership with Brightspeed, ushering in a new phase of support for collegiate esports and STEM-focused student success.
As part of this renewed agreement, Brightspeed will provide a $2,500 scholarship to support a Bishop Gaming Association player, with the recipient to be selected for the spring 2027 semester. The partnership also includes continued sponsorship of NC Wesleyan University’s esports program, reinforcing Brightspeed’s commitment to expanding opportunities for students and increasing visibility of the University’s growing esports community.
Brightspeed’s Evolving Investment in Esports and STEM
The continued partnership builds on Brightspeed’s earlier investment in NC Wesleyan esports, part of a broader $580,000+ statewide commitment to STEM and esports initiatives across North Carolina. Brightspeed’s support spans tournament sponsorships, technology lab development, and direct investment in school and university esports programs, helping to enhance digital learning and competitive gaming opportunities for students.
“We’re proud to support organizations like Bishop Gaming Association as they spark creativity to help students see what’s possible,” said Sabrina Anderson at Brightspeed. “Our investment reinforces the power of community partnerships and the importance of bringing high-quality educational resources to students across North Carolina.”
At NC Wesleyan, Brightspeed’s continued backing supports scholarships, equipment upgrades, and travel for tournaments, ensuring the Bishop Gaming Association can compete at a higher level while providing students with rich, hands-on experiences in the rapidly growing esports ecosystem.
Esports as a Platform for Future Leaders
“Esports at NCWU is evolving, and this renewal from Brightspeed allows our students to evolve with it,” said Chantoni Grant, Director of Esports at NCWU. “We’re not just playing games. We are building leaders, creators, and future professionals. Brightspeed’s continued support gives our students the tools to take that next step.”
Participation in NC Wesleyan esports offers students opportunities to develop skills in broadcasting, content creation, event production, analytics, digital marketing, and information technology, all while representing the University in competitive play. These experiences align with workforce demands in technology, media, and STEM-related fields, positioning esports as both a co-curricular passion and a professional launchpad.
Get Involved with NC Wesleyan Esports
North Carolina Wesleyan University invites students, alumni, and community partners to engage with the Bishop Gaming Association and support the University’s expanding esports efforts. Those interested in learning more about NCWU esports, scholarship opportunities, partnerships, or student involvement can visit ncwu.edu or follow NC Wesleyan and Bishop Esports on social media for program updates, team highlights, and upcoming competitions.
About North Carolina Wesleyan University
North Carolina Wesleyan University (NCWU) is a small, private Methodist-affiliated institution with a liberal arts-based core curriculum that prepares students for professional advancement, life-long learning and responsible participation in their communities. NCWU offers liberal arts, professional and graduate degree programs for traditional, transfer and working-adult students.
NCWU offers a best-in-class value and a personally tailored private higher education experience. We invest in each and every student we accept by providing individualized awards, scholarships and grants. Wesleyan is YOUR hometown University that is Personal. Practical, and Purpose-Driven. With students from all over the United States and more than 40 different countries, the University has immense cultural diversity. In addition to its educational mission, NCWU serves as a vital economic engine for the region, contributing over $209 million to the local economy.
To learn more, visit ncwu.edu and follow on Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok and Instagram.
About Brightspeed
Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C. and with assets and associated operations in 20 states, Brightspeed provides broadband and telecommunications services through a network platform capable of serving more than 7.3 million homes and businesses. Our nearly 4,000 employees are committed to building a future where more communities benefit from a more connected life, deploying a state-of-the-art fiber network and a customer experience that makes being connected as simple as it should be. For more information, please visit www.brightspeed.com.
NCWC Students Job Shadow at Grover Gaming in Greenville, NC
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – While many college students spend their spring breaks traveling or visiting their favorite beach, several students at NC Wesleyan took the time to learn about career development. The College’s Office of Career Development & Leadership organized an opportunity for a small group of NCWC juniors to visit Grover Gaming in Greenville, NC. On Tuesday, March 8 and Wednesday, March 9, these students were exposed to many aspects of the organization’s business, including their game development studio. Grover Gaming’s Greenville location is home to game developers, 3D artists, release QA testers, research and development engineers, and several other teams.
All students who participated are Computer Information Systems majors. They were able to learn about the mission, vision and values within the company, benefits of full-time positions and the intersection of various departments. As an added bonus, each student received a professional headshot taken by Grover Gaming.
“When I heard Grover’s president, Garrett Blackwelder, discuss the meaning behind the company name being rooted in the concept of growth, I knew I had brought our students to a great place for a developmental experience. Mr. Blackwelder genuinely explained that “Grover” was selected to reflect his vision for the organization to “grow over and over” in the game development industry and also for his entire team to continually grow professionally and personally,” stated Jessie Langley, Associate Dean of Career Development & Leadership at NC Wesleyan. “Our visit confirmed this as I found the Grover culture to be intoxicatingly warm while also laser-focused on the company’s goals.”
Ki Vera Pardillo, one of the NCWC students who took part in this opportunity, witnessed how her training in the classroom could apply to a full-time career after college. She states: “I got to see a real-life setting for the development processes of gaming software ranging from graphic design to the deployment of their products. I was also able to ask software developers and programmers which methods and development tools they use to create the programs, as well as how they improve their products to have a competitive advantage.”
Langley hopes to continue facilitating future visits to Grover Gaming so that additional students can learn specifically about the game development side of the business.
About Grover Gaming
Founded in Greenville, NC, Grover Gaming is a software development and design company with offices and distribution facilities in 9 different states that specializes in electronic gaming throughout the US and Canada. Grover Gaming has evolved from a small gaming route started by founder Garrett Blackwelder in 2003, to a company of over 350 talented employees, focused on building a strong foundation of humble, passionate people, effective processes, and superior products. That vision continues, thanks to our growing team of dedicated employees and their desire to create innovative and entertaining gaming experiences for an ever-changing industry. Grover Gaming is a multiyear recipient of Inc Magazine’s prestigious Inc 5000 award, ranking #194 in 2020.
Esports Thrives at NC Wesleyan University
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – The Bishop Gaming Association (BGA) is North Carolina Wesleyan University’s co-ed Esports Program. Established in September 2019, the BGA has quickly become the College’s largest student club with 89 current members. The Program is categorized into three different entities: the Elite Team, Productions and the Club.
The Elite Team is for students who are looking to compete in leagues or tournaments on a collegiate level. Students can compete on both PC and console platforms in multiple games, including Call of Duty, Overwatch, Fortnite, Super Smash Bros and many more. BGA Elite Team members are part of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) and the Collegiate Star League (CSL). Since its inception, the team has participated in several third-party tournaments. To become a BGA Elite Team member, students must: complete a questionnaire; submit a highlight reel via Twitch, Facebook or YouTube; participate in live tryouts; and play a game with current members to exhibit their communication and skills in a team environment.
Productions is targeted toward students interested in video editing, content creation, graphic design, journalism, TV shows, podcasting and on-air hosting. The BGA Production room allows students to explore their creative ideas and consists of an iMac computer, an Alienware computer and Elgato products for graphic design, podcasting, editing and streaming. Students within BGA Productions shoot, edit and produce a bi-weekly segment called “BGA News,” which is broadcast on televisions throughout campus and shared on The BGA’s social media accounts.
Those who are casual gamers or spectators interested in gaming as an extracurricular activity are able to join the BGA Club. The Club allows casual gamers to participate in various BGA-sponsored gaming events and activities. Those interested in the Club are able to develop their gaming skills, as well as receive education and various perspectives into the development of video games.
Video game tournaments – known as Esports – are quickly becoming a must-have on many college and university campuses. The National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE), says that there are currently more than 170 active collegiate varsity Esports teams with over 5,000 student-athletes.
“I am excited to return back to North Carolina Wesleyan University to help promote the culture of gaming, media and entertainment in our community. My goal is to provide students with awareness, resources, advice and experience in the gaming industry,” stated Chantoni Grant, Director of Bishop Gaming Association.
The Bishop Gaming Association has developed positive relationships with faculty, staff, students and media outlets while interacting successfully with the College community. It provides students with knowledge to enter the Esports field from any angle. The BGA offers connections, internship programs and desired career opportunities within the Esports and production industry. Students develop skills in community building, team chemistry, managing and organizing teams, planning and organizing events, and creating innovative and unique strategies. The College’s state-of-the-art, glass-enclosed Esports gaming room, The Fortress, opened in January 2021 in The Hartness Center and is equipped with the some of the best equipment in the gaming industry. The room features a row of Alienware computers, multiple flat screen TVs, a small console area and an Esports art wall created by students.
