Esports and Gaming Club: An Inclusive Community with a Common Passion

When he’s not enjoying the outdoors, Alvaro is a gamer, specifically, one who focuses on Esports, which is form of sport competition using video games.

“I would say the majority of my friends come from the Gaming Club. It has been an honor helping move the club—and gaming as a whole—forward by fostering a community of individuals from many different backgrounds, all connected by the same passion. There’s never a week when you can’t just walk in and start spending time with our members. It’s a fantastic way to meet people. People from our competitive teams have become best friends and for many, it is one of the most enjoyable aspects of their lives at Seattle U.”

ALVARO VAZQUEZ, CLASS OF 2022 DATA ANALYTICS & FINANCE MAJOR RESIDENT ASSISTANT IN CAMPION HALL STUDENT GOVERNMENT MULTICULTURAL REPRESENTATIVE ESPORTS CLUB PRESIDENT FROM PITTSBURG, CA

GET TO KNOW ALVARO

Favorite video game: “Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door.” In terms of multiplayer games, “League of Legends.”

Favorite campus location: The 6th floor of the library. It’s a fantastic place to study, read or just relax.

Favorite thing about Seattle: The food. There are so many options when you’re in an urban setting. Shout-out to the food in the International District. Dim Sum King is my go-to for a quick grab and go.

Dream job after graduation: I would love to be a financial or data analyst at a tech corporation. Google or Microsoft would be pretty dope. I would also be open to similar positions at game companies, most notably Riot Games.

Favorite band or music genre: My favorite band by far is The 1975.

What you like most about Seattle U: The class sizes and focus on every student’s experiences. I appreciate that you can have an actual interaction with your professor. I feel that this would be more difficult at a larger institution.

ESPORTS AND GAMING CLUB

With more than 400 members, the Esports and Gaming Club is the largest and fastest growing club on campus. Students meet weekly to enjoy the company of others around video games. Members interested in esports focus on the competitive side of gaming and competitive teams excel in their environments. The club’s explosive growth and success led to a dedicated physical space on campus.

“In tournaments specifically, we’ve noted a strong increase in female participants. As a club founded by two women, led for its first two years by women, and with traditional female-majority leadership, this is incredibly important to us. Gaming has always been male-dominated and we’re proud to say that we’re moving against the grain here as best we can to ensure our club is inviting for everyone,” says Alvaro Vazquez.

During COVID-19 most esports games have continued to prosper, thanks to their digital nature. The club hosts two large events every quarter, including League of Legends Worlds watch parties, Super Smash Bros. tournaments and panels with guests from the professional gaming world.

Seattle University Esports and Gaming Club members participate in a League of Legends Worlds Tournament. (Photo taken prior to COVID-19)