Nov. 29, 2023

Student nominated for prestigious collegiate gaming award

By Kayla Holman, communication assistant

Logan Lewis uses Northwest Missouri State University’s Esports Lab as a safe space to exercise his love for competitive gaming. This fall, his involvement and impacts on the Esports Club earned him a nomination as Collegiate Student Leader of the Year at the Scholars Collegiate Gaming Esports Awards.

Lewis, a senior computer science major from Lawson, Missouri, joined Northwest’s Esports Club after learning about it at a student organization fair his freshman year. With more than 100 students participating, the Esports Club is a competitive gaming community open to all students.

Lewis’s love for gaming began during childhood when he played video games with his dad. That love for gaming helped him find connections at Northwest.  

“I didn’t really have a place to fit in whenever I was in lower education,” Lewis said. “Now I’m in college and have a place and a community, and now I’m being nominated for this award. It’s a really big honor.” 

To be nominated as Collegiate Student Leader of the Year, students must be involved in helping, improving and leading their school’s esports program. The award is considered the most prestigious in collegiate gaming, recognizing the top-performing collegiate student leaders from more than 800 institutions. Lewis was one of 13 finalists for the honor.

Andrew Murphy, Northwest’s esports advisor and head coach, said Lewis’s character and contributions to the Northwest esports club align with the award criteria.

“Logan has been integral to the growth of esports at Northwest,” Murphy said. “His leadership has spearheaded significant improvements, establishing him as a foundational pillar of the program.”  

At Northwest, Lewis has advocated for the club’s varsity scholarships, coordinated esports events and is consistently recruiting students to join the club. 

“The goal of the esports organization at Northwest is not about winning as many games as possible,” Lewis said. “Instead, our focus is on preparing our players for their careers by providing real-world experiences, such as streaming, conducting large meetings and working on their mental and emotional growth.” 

Along with his esports experience, Lewis is thankful for the other tools the University has provided him.

“Northwest has equipped me with the knowledge essential for my area of study,” he said. “It has provided me with various professional skills useful for collaborating with others, managing projects and handling diverse situations in life.”  

Opened in 2020, the Esports Lab is located on the third floor of Northwest’s J.W. Jones Student Union and is designed to engage students to thrive in a competitive environment while building long-lasting connections. The Esports Lab is open to all students Monday through Friday from 1 to 5 p.m.

For additional information about Northwest Esports, including scholarship opportunities, visit www.nwmissouri.edu/esports/.