Ferris State assistant professor Adam Antor is being honored for having a transformative impact on collegiate gaming, recognizing the growing national leadership of the university’s esports team and program.

Antor is one of nine people nominated for the Global Impact on Collegiate Gaming Award from the Scholars, a collegiate gaming symposium. The organization was created by the team behind the Esports Awards, which showcases top-class performance and innovation from players, teams, media, hardware providers, games, events, and personalities within the esports world.

The Global Impact Award honors an individual or organization that has had a transformative impact on the collegiate gaming scene.

“Their work will have made the collegiate gaming scene a better place for everyone involved, and they will have achieved this leading by example and showing the highest level of integrity and professionalism,” reads a statement posted by the organization.

Esports, short for electronic sports, is a video game competition with participants squaring off as individuals or teams. More than 240 colleges and universities are fielding esports teams with more than 5,000 student-athletes, according to the National Association of Collegiate Esports, a Kansas City-based nonprofit.

Ferris State’s Esports Program is up for three other national awards from the organization, including Institution of the Year. Jono Eaton is among nine finalists for Program Director of the Year and Kyle Wilkowski is among 11 finalists for Collegiate Student Leader of the Year. Online voting runs through Nov. 20, 2023, and available at the Scholars website.

“I am honored to be named a finalist for the Global Impact Award from the Scholars Awards alongside a distinguished cohort of collegiate esports leaders,” Antor said. “Ferris State University has swiftly solidified its position as a leader in esports, and the four finalist accolades are a testament to that fact. I remain profoundly grateful for the Ferris State community’s dedication and the unwavering support from our administration, including President Bill Pink, College of Business Dean Logan Jones, and School of Digital Media Director Glen Okonoski. Go Bulldogs.”

Antor also was asked to join the panel of 11 judges for the Scholars Awards. The Scholars Awards ceremony is planned for Nov. 28 in Las Vegas.

Antor started at Ferris State in August after being esports director at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Fla., head esports coach at Aquinas College and West Catholic High School, both in Grand Rapids.

Ferris’ Esports program was organized in 2017, and leaders said there has been steady growth to reach 500 club members.  

Ferris State in August unveiled its dedicated Esports Arena – the first purpose-built esports arena built in Michigan – to attract new students interested in competitive gaming and the careers associated with the growing field.

The arena is the centerpiece of the new $32 million Center for Virtual Learning.

The state-of-the-art arena gives production teams enhanced opportunities to gather and present replays during competition. It provides space for spectators, accommodating 18 participating teams, consistent with the program’s growth goals.

The university began its Bachelor of Science curriculum in Professional Esports Production in Fall 2022.

The Center for Virtual Learning also houses the Information Security and Intelligence program and the Digital Animation and Game Design curriculum. Also, it hosts Digital Media Software Engineering instruction and offices for the School of Education and is home to Esports gaming and facilities.