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UAF photo by Leif Van Cise.
From left, UAF esports team members Natalie Lutrell and Max Beiergrohslein join Vice Chancellor Owen Guthrie and Heath Day, GCI's education program senior manager, for a Mario Kart race during a block party event to celebrate upgrades at the ������appEsports Center on Oct. 6, 2023.

By Brooke Larson

When GCI cranked up the internet speed at UAF’s ������appEsports Center in October 2023, the way to celebrate seemed clear: A Mario Kart competition.

The contestants — a UAF administrator, a GCI representative and two students — picked up game consoles during a “block party” to help mark the occasion. After choosing characters, they raced in their go-karts, careening down the virtual obstacle course on the esports center’s screens.

Nook, the UAF mascot, didn’t play but offered “helpful” encouragement (or discouragement) from the sidelines (or front lines), as needed.

The ������appEsports Center, created through a 10-year partnership between GCI and UAF, started with a  2-gigabit internet connection two years ago. The space, located in Wood Center, offers both team and individual gaming consoles.

The GCI Esports Block Party on Oct. 6  celebrated a ramp-up to a 5-gig speed.

The change significantly improved UAF’s connections to colleges in the Lower 48, allowing UAF esports teams to play more competitively.

“Every millisecond counts in online gameplay, and when it comes to streaming large amounts of data, your connection is only as good as the network you’re operating on,” said Jessica Taft, GCI’s director of business marketing. “GCI is committed to delivering best-in-class speed and reliability to Alaska.”

More than 150 students attended the block party, which also featured tours of the new GCI Team Center. It’s a reflection of the huge surge in popularity of the collegiate esports roster at UAF.

“The GCI Team Center is our most recent step toward making our esports program the best it can be for our students,” said Drake Richards, UAF esports coordinator. “There is a need for them to have their own space — with equipment and internet speeds that can maximize their potential.” 

UAF’s esports program supports seven teams: Valorant, Rocket League, League of Legends, Rainbow Six Siege, Counter-Strike 2, Overwatch 2 and Beat Saber.

Richards said the “GCI Team Center allows campus competitors to have the best possible experience with their practices and matches. As a bonus, it frees the main esports center to all students. That means  significantly fewer reservations throughout the evenings."

GCI also announced a new scholarship during the block party.

“Each year, we will award two $5,000 scholarships to two students,” said Tiffany Vassar, GCI senior manager of contributions and events. “The scholarship is also renewable for up to four years, giving the students that much more financial security throughout their time in college.”

UAF offers additional support in $1,000 annual scholarships for the Valorant, Rocket League and League of Legends esport teams.

“UAF's partnership with GCI is all about supporting students and showcasing their talents, and the expanded esports center does exactly that,” said UAF Vice Chancellor Owen Guthrie.

Guthrie represented the UAF administration in the Mario Kart race. He raced as Mario, the character the game was named after. 

“I am not sure it helped me at all,” he said later.

Guthrie was joined by Heath Day, GCI’s education program senior manager, for the competition. They raced against two UAF esport team members, Max "Aurelius" Beiergrohslein of team Valorant and Natalie "Fretzle" Lutrell  of team Overwatch.

"I was resoundingly defeated by our student-athletes — which is exactly as it should be,” Guthrie said. “Our athletes are top competitors in the world of esports, and we are so proud they represent Nanook Nation!”

At the end of the block party, students eagerly gathered in the esports lounge and waited for Vassar to call out the winners of the GCI giveaway. The prizes included a PlayStation 5, an Oculus Quest 2 virtual reality set and a $50 gift card to Arctic Sun VR, which went to three lucky students.