Civic Synergy Aims to Foster Cross-Partisan Conversations Resulting in Policy Solutions to Share with Members of Congress

CAMBRIDGE (May 18, 2021) – Civic Synergy, a pilot program based at MIT, announces today a call to action for college aged participants to join in discussions about some of the most important issues facing America today.  Participants will engage in four sessions that include brief, informative, and inspiring talks followed by facilitated discussions aimed at generating solutions. Through the program, participants will not only discuss pragmatic policy proposals that they can present to members of Congress but will build the toolkit to have productive conversations with those across the aisle.

Being named a 2021 Davis Projects for Peace Fellowship recipient, Civic Synergy aims to foster productive cross-partisan conversations between students and ultimately the creation of bipartisan policy solutions shared with members of Congress. As part of the program, young Americans will have the chance to propose real, tractable solutions to combat important issues with a politically diverse group of peers. This summer, the sessions will focus on, combatting starting with climate change, while preserving economic development, with a politically diverse group of peers.  For more information about the David Projects for Peace Fellowship, please visit: https://pkgcenter.mit.edu/programs/fellowships/davis-projects-for-peace-fellowships/

Civic Synergy’s pilot program will conduct two Think Tank sessions which will occur throughout June and July.  Each group of young Americans will provide important information into the issues that are most important to the country’s future and will offer invaluable insight into how the leaders of tomorrow will find solutions to our biggest obstacles, all done in a bi-partisan forum.

“As a member of a Civic Synergy Think Tank, participants will have an opportunity to work closely with students from very different political backgrounds” said Kiara Wahnschafft, Co-Founder and MIT Junior. “This is a unique experience that you can speak to as you launch your career and build your resume.”

Think Tank I of the pilot program will occur:
June 9th, June 16th, June 23rd, and June 30th from 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM EST

Think Tank II of the pilot program will occur:
July 7th, July 14th, July 21st, and July 28th from 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM EST

“Our generation is filled with creatives, with activists, and with visionaries. We aim to tap into their ideas by working together to turn our roundtable discussions into Congressional solutions” added MIT Sophomore and Co-Founder, Mallika Pajjuri. “What better way for our voices to be heard, than to speak loudly and with support of all sides of the political landscape?”

Interested students can apply at tinyurl.com/civicsynergy.
Additional information about this pilot program can be found at civicsynergy.live.

The deadline for applicants will be:  MAY 31, 2021

About Civic Synergy

Civic Synergy aims to foster productive cross-partisan conversations between students and ultimately the creation of bipartisan policy solutions shared with members of Congress. As part of the program, young Americans will have the chance to propose real, tractable solutions to combat important issues, starting with climate change — while preserving economic development — with a politically diverse group of peers.

Media Contact
Mallika Pajjuri
mallika@civicsynergy.co

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It’s Time to Go Full Send in the Collegiate Esports Invitational Featuring Fortnite as Registrations to Compete Are Officially Open

Driven by “Where Conference Champions Are Crowned,” 10 NCAA Conferences Will Host Their Own Tournaments on May 21-23, with Each Champion and Runner-Up Advancing to National Finals on May 27

LOS ANGELES (May 13, 2021) – GCN, Inc. (Gaming Community Network), an independent media group dedicated to gaming and esports, and Van Wagner today announced registrations are open through May 19, 2021 for the Collegiate Esports Invitational Featuring Fortnite taking place online on May 21-27, 2021.

Built for “Where Conference Champions Are Crowned,” the event is open to all students from the 110 colleges and universities in the America East Conference, Big South Conference, Big West Conference, Colonial Athletic Association, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, Southland Conference, Sun Belt Conference, West Coast Conference, Western Athletic Conference and the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association who can now enter their Duo Fortnite teams to compete in a best of one, double elimination format by registering at www.collegiateesportsinvitational.com.

The champion and runner-up from each conference tournament will advance to the National Finals on May 27 in a bracketed format, double elimination format. Along with earning bragging rights as the overall champions, teams will be competing for a $10,000 prize pool with $500 for each of the conference tournament winners and $5,000 to the winner of the National Final.

All of the tournaments can be viewed at twitch.tv/CollegiateEsportsInv, as well as co-streamed on each team and conference’s Twitch site if they request it. The tournament will also be carried by GCN across 85+ gaming and esports centric websites to enhance viewership and messaging. GCN reaches 65M+ monthly uniques in the U.S.

The schedule for 10 NCAA Conferences is (all times Eastern):

Friday, May 21
• Big South Conference – 6 pm
• Western Athletic Conference – 8 pm

Saturday, May 22
• CIAA – 2 pm
• Sun Belt Conference – 4 pm
• Southland Conference – 6 pm
• West Coast Conference – 8 pm

Sunday, May 23
• Colonial Athletic Association – 2 pm
• America East Conference – 4 pm
• MAAC – 6 pm
• Big West Conference – 8 pm

“We’re really excited to finally bring the biggest collegiate esports tournament to life that is open to all students in the participating conferences to compete not only for their school, but for the glory of ultimately becoming a true champion,” said Chris Kindt, Chief Marketing Officer of GCN.

The Collegiate Esports Invitational continues this fall with two additional tournaments. Plans will be unveiled this summer.

About Gaming Community Network:
GCN, Inc. (Gaming Community Network) is the only independent media group completely dedicated to gaming and esports across community sites, content producers, influencers and tournament/event operators. Bridging the gap between traditional media and gaming with a “Gamer First” promise, GCN’s aggregated & integrated proprietary media network reaches 65M+ MAU’s in the US (115M+ MAUs globally) driving scale for premium content designed to provoke and share conversations. GCN builds bespoke strategy solutions from content creation to full-scale tournaments for any endpoint be it social, broadcast TV or live stream. As a GameSquare Esports Inc. (stock: GSQ, Canadian Stock Exchange) subsidiary, GCN collaborates with its partners to deliver memorable experiences for gamers and brands. To learn more, visit GCN.gg or follow on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/GamingCommunityNetwork/

About Van Wagner:
Van Wagner is a wholly owned subsidiary of Van Wagner Group LLC that creates, advises, and sells on behalf of world-class teams, leagues, brands, properties, and colleges. An innovator in the sports and media business, Van Wagner is a global leader in high-impact broadcast visible signage throughout the MLB, NBA, NCAA, and the highest levels of international soccer, sponsorships sales, premium ticketing, college multi-media rights, and in-venue content production at the world’s biggest sporting events. www.vanwagner.com

Media Contact:
DKC Esports for GCN
GCN@dkcnews.com

Lexington Welcomes First Major Esports Franchise as NBA 2K League Team Begins Its Second Season on May 19 and Quest for Championship

LOS ANGELES (May 11, 2021) Global esports organization Gen.G announced today that it is relocating its NBA 2K League franchise, the Gen.G Tigers of Shanghai, to facilities located at the University of Kentucky to compete virtually in its second season in the league and joining the new 12-team Eastern Conference.

Kicking off its 2021 NBA 2K League season with THE TIPOFF powered by AT&T on May 19-22 with a prize pool of $160,000, the team will practice and compete in the University of Kentucky Federal Credit Union Esports Lounge at The Cornerstone. The team will also have access to UK campus services including dining and the recreational center facilities across campus.

“We’ve forged an incredible global relationship with the University of Kentucky, so it’s only natural for our 2K League team to train and compete on the campus of the nation’s winningest college basketball program,” said by Chris Park, CEO of Gen.G. “UK is a vibrant community with state-of-the-art facilities, and our players are honored to be the first pro esports team in-residence at a major university.”

The team will have opportunities to interact with UK esports players and students as the esports community continues to grow on campus. Gen.G hopes to be able to make tickets available to watch live games in the Theater, if the public health situation allows for live attendance during the season.

“We are proud of our basketball heritage, so we couldn’t be more excited to welcome Gen.G.’s NBA 2K League team to our campus,” said Heath Price, Associate CIO at UK. “The team will play at the Cornerstone which has the best internet connectivity east of the Mississippi. They will have our full support.”

Led by Coach Lennon Ross, the Tigers have reloaded after its inaugural 6-10 season with a mix of returning and new players following the NBA 2K League Draft on March 13. The 2021 roster includes:

Chris “Turnupdefense” Anderson (@Turnupdefense) is in his 2nd season with the Tigers as a lockdown defender. He won an NBA 2K League championship with T-Wolves Gaming in 2019. Originally from Los Angeles, he now resides in Las Vegas when he’s not competing. Turnup is the only returning player from Gen.G’s 2020 roster.

Mihad “FEAST” Feratovic (@iFEAST__) joins the Tigers after spending last season with the 76ers GC and plays power forward. He was also one of the first two players in T-Wolves Gaming history. FEAST is originally from Brooklyn and also won a championship in 2019 with T-Wolves Gaming. FEAST is a two-time NBA 2K League Sportsmanship Award winner.

Alex “Bsmoove” Reese (@BsmooveJ) joins the team after the Tigers traded its #3 overall pick in the first round of the NBA 2K League Draft with his former team, the Warriors Gaming Squad. The shooting point guard brings a wealth of competitive experience. He is originally from Milwaukie, Oregon and enjoys playing and coaching basketball when he’s not competing in NBA 2K or Fortnite. Bsmoove is also a two-time tournament champion, winning both THE TURN and THE TICKET in 2019 with Warriors Gaming Squad. He was also named THE TICKET MVP in 2019.

Jordan “JMoney” Martinez (@JMoneyRep817) makes his debut with the Tigers this season after he was acquired from T-Wolves Gaming. The small forward averaged 18.2 points per game last season. JMoney is originally from Fort Worth, Texas. JMoney won a championship in 2019 with T-Wolves Gaming. A big difference this year will be he finally gets to play point guard, his natural position.

Donald “BumpyDon” Newsome (@BxmpyDon) is the 44th overall pick in the 2021 NBA 2K League Draft. BumpyDon was widely considered one of the more promising PF prospects in this year’s draft. Originally from Virginia Beach, VA, BumpyDon was the first rookie selected for the Gen.G Tigers this year.

Kennedy “Sawc” Tauala, Jr. (@sawc4L) is the 47th overall pick in the 2021 NBA 2K League Draft. Sawc is widely considered one of the better characters from this year’s draft pool. He is a hybrid player that can fill numerous roles on a team, which fits perfectly with the current setup of this year’s roster. Sawc is born and raised from Long Beach, CA and also has graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in Psychology.

In September 2019, the team became the 23rd franchise in the league and the first team not affiliated with a NBA team as part of a long-term strategic relationship to tap into Gen.G’s multinational brand across Asia and the U.S.

About Gen.G
Established in 2017, Gen.G is the leading esports organization connecting the United States and Asia. Currently ranked no. 6 in the Forbes list of the “World’s Most Valuable Esports Companies,” Gen.G is the only major organization that owns and operates top teams in the world’s leading esports markets — China, South Korea and the United States. Its unique portfolio of teams, winners of seven global championships to date, includes the Seoul Dynasty franchise of the Overwatch League; 2014 and 2017 League of Legends world champion team in South Korea; the world’s top all-female Fortnite team, based in Los Angeles; and the NBA 2K League’s historic expansion franchise in Shanghai.

United under #TigerNation, Gen.G’s core mission is to help fans and athletes use the power of gaming and esports to get ahead in and beyond the competition. The company has quickly become a commercial and thought leader, building a global, inclusive and cross-cultural future for sports entertainment. Its widely acclaimed initiatives include: #TeamBumble, the leading team platform for the empowerment of women in gaming; and Gen.G Elite Esports Academy, the world’s first fully-integrated academic esports program. Gen.G’s teams, content creators and corporate staff work out of their offices in Los Angeles, Seoul and Shanghai. More information about Gen.G esports and its teams can be found at this link.

About the University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky is increasingly the first choice for students, faculty and staff to pursue their passions and their professional goals. In the last two years, Forbes has named UK among the best employers for diversity, and INSIGHT into Diversity recognized us as a Diversity Champion four years running. UK is ranked among the top 30 campuses in the nation for LGBTQ* inclusion and safety. UK has been judged a “Great College to Work for” three years in a row, and UK is among only 22 universities in the country on Forbes’ list of “America’s Best Employers.” We are ranked among the top 10 percent of public institutions for research expenditures — a tangible symbol of our breadth and depth as a university focused on discovery that changes lives and communities. And our patients know and appreciate the fact that UK HealthCare has been named the state’s top hospital for five straight years. Accolades and honors are great. But they are more important for what they represent: the idea that creating a community of belonging and commitment to excellence is how we honor our mission to be not simply the University of Kentucky, but the University for Kentucky.

About the NBA 2K League
The NBA 2K League, a professional esports league co-founded by the NBA and Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO), launched in 2018 and features the best NBA 2K players in the world. Each of the league’s 23 teams features six players who compete as unique characters in 5-on-5 play against the other teams in a mix of regular-season games, tournaments and playoffs. NBA 2K League partners include Anheuser-Busch, AT&T, Champion Athleticwear, Dash Radio, DoorDash, ESRevolution, Loco, Mondelēz International, Raynor Gaming, SAP, SCUF Gaming, Snickers, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sport1, Twitch, Wilson and YouTube. For more information about the NBA 2K League, visit NBA2KLeague.com.

Media Contact
Gen.G:
GenG@DKCnews.com

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Schedule Planning Just Got Easier.

Students needing help picking their classes is something that happens at universities around the nation. ClassRanked.com was designed to alleviate the stress around the registration process and give students data behind which classes to choose.

Co-founders of ClassRanked, Hayden Hall, Dilan Trivedi, and Max Labaton are familiar with the difficulty of course registration. The three friends founded the site after spending hours going through outdated reviews, asking others for advice, and messaging different groups on campus to find their perfect schedules.

They then built the ClassRanked platform to offer students a way of seeing data provided from universities to make more informed decisions on course enrollment. Now, the site is available at over 400 colleges and universities, allowing students to see grade distributions to understand how students in past semesters performed in classes.

“We had faced the same problem millions of other students face each semester when choosing classes,” co-founder Hayden Hall said about the creation of ClassRanked. “We realized that students are left in the dark and wanted to give them a way of using objective data to perfect their schedules.” ClassRanked provides that solution to students: the ability to see past grade distributions by class and by professor, coupled with user reviews and course recommendation tools.

Unlike the typical class review sites, the ClassRanked platform does not rely on word-of-mouth experiences left by often disgruntled students. Rather user reviews can be used to contextualize the historical grading data that is offered by class or professor. “For the first time ever, students can see how past classes performed and can use that to predict the difficulty and viability of a class for their schedule,” Hall continued.

Hall encourages students to join the more than 250,000 ClassRanked members who rely on the site as a must use utility for students who are planning their academic futures and making the most of the investment they are making in a higher education.

About ClassRanked.com
Launched in 2019 by classmates from Duke University, ClassRanked is a technology enabled platform that unlocks value for students, employers and higher education institutions through building the largest data set of students’ actual academic performance in courses offered by more than 300,000 faculty at more than 400 colleges and universities.

Media Contact
contact@classranked.com

Heron Preston, Executive Brand Advisor for Gen.G, will join PUMA, University of Kentucky, Eastern Michigan University, and brand “Kids of Immigrants” to provide opportunity for the next generation of gaming leaders

LOS ANGELES (April 26, 2021) — Global esports organization Gen.G today announced the opening of the application process for the second annual Gen.G Foundation scholarship. As part of its $1 million pledge over the next 10 years, the fund focuses on supporting women, people of color and low income students enrolled in a U.S university or college who are interested in a career in esports, gaming, entrepreneurship, journalism and content creation. Students can apply at www.geng.gg.

Each student will receive a $10,000 grant to pursue their education and will be a part of Gen.G’s ongoing programming in 2021 for career development. The application process will close on May 31, 2021, and the winners will be announced in September 2021. The first class of Gen.G Foundation Scholarship recipients or Gen 10 was awarded in December 2020 and represented eight states and 11 colleges and universities across the United States.

Executive Brand Advisor for Gen.G, Heron Preston, trailblazing brand and collective “Kids of Immigrants”, global sports company PUMA, University of Kentucky, and Eastern Michigan University will join as partners for the second Gen.G Foundation’s class. Preston will focus on finding creative innovators in the digital space, “Kids of Immigrants” will award a first generation immigrant student applicant with their “Anything Is Possible” grant, PUMA will focus on the development of student esports athletes, University of Kentucky and EMU will award members of their undergraduate community.

“I am so honored to join Gen.G’s commitment to education and to inspire young people to pursue their dreams without barriers,” said Preston. “Investing in this next generation of students and innovators is important to propel change within the industry.”

“It was Gen.G’s great privilege to review so many promising applications for last year’s inaugural Gen 10 class,” said Chris Park, CEO of Gen.G. “So many high-potential students today are gamers, who often hail from underrepresented backgrounds. The Gen.G Foundation’s commitment to better access is a vote of confidence in the enormous pool of talented students around the world, which this year’s Gen 10 class will represent proudly.”

Gen.G is building a global student gaming community that bridges geography, gender, and access. With the establishment of the Gen.G Global Academy in 2019, the Gen.G Scholarship Foundation in 2020, the launch of professional development content series “Work From Home” in 2021, Gen.G continues to evolve the intersection of gaming and educational communities.

About Gen.G
Established in 2017, Gen.G is the leading esports organization connecting the United States and Asia. Currently ranked no. 6 in the Forbes list of the “World’s Most Valuable Esports Companies,” Gen.G is the only major organization that owns and operates top teams in the world’s leading esports markets — China, South Korea and the United States. Its unique portfolio of teams, winners of seven global championships to date, includes the Seoul Dynasty franchise of the Overwatch League; 2014 and 2017 League of Legends world champion team in South Korea; the world’s top all-female Fortnite team, based in Los Angeles; and the NBA 2K League’s historic expansion franchise in Shanghai.

United under #TigerNation, Gen.G’s core mission is to help fans and athletes use the power of gaming and esports to get ahead in and beyond the competition. The company has quickly become a commercial and thought leader, building a global, inclusive and cross-cultural future for sports entertainment. Its widely acclaimed initiatives include: #TeamBumble, the leading team platform for the empowerment of women in gaming; and Gen.G Elite Esports Academy, the world’s first fully-integrated academic esports program. Gen.G’s teams, content creators and corporate staff work out of their offices in Los Angeles, Seoul and Shanghai. More information about Gen.G esports and its teams at geng.gg.

Media Contacts
Gen.G:
GenG@DKCnews.com

Written collaboratively by a diverse team of designers, Extra Bold: A Feminist, Inclusive, Anti-Racist, Nonbinary Field Guide for Graphic Design (Princeton Architectural Press, May 11, 2021) aims to add new voices to the conversation around DEI and design and reshape how we view and think about our world.

Featuring interviews, essays, typefaces, and projects from dozens of contributors across a variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds, abilities, gender identities, and positions of economic and social privilege, Extra Bold is filled with stories and ideas that don’t show up in other career books or design overviews.

The book opens with essays that bring fresh ideas to feminism, racism, inclusion, and nonbinary thinking. Later, it explores power structures and how to navigate them. Interviews showcase people at different stages of their careers, and biographical sketches explore individuals whose stories haven’t been told due to sexism, racism, and ableism. Extra Bold explores a wide array of topics, including “mansplaining,” disability theory, binary thinking, wage gaps, mentoring, activism, and much more. Extra Bold is the career manual every design student needs.

As the authors explain in the introduction, “People begin their careers with different life histories. Those experiences affect what we know, how we work, and what gifts—and biases—we bring to our work…Each individual can leverage their own power to amplify other voices and disrupt patterns of inequity.”

Extra Bold: A Feminist, Inclusive, Anti-Racist, Nonbinary Field Guide for Graphic Design by Ellen Lupton, Farah Kafei, Jennifer Tobias, Josh A. Halstead, Kaleena Sales, Leslie Xia, and Valentina Vergara

$29.95 Paperback
On sale 5/11/21 (available now for pre-order)
PAPress.com/pages/extra-bold

Annual scholarship program is open to students pursuing a cybersecurity or AI education

SUNNYVALE, Calif. – (April 15, 2021) – The application period for the CrowdStrike Foundation NextGen Scholarship Program, which provides financial assistance to select undergraduate and graduate students studying cybersecurity or artificial intelligence (AI), is now open and accepting submissions. This year, up to eight (8) scholarships of $7,500 will be awarded. In addition, NextGen scholarship applicants will be automatically included in the candidate pool for CrowdStrike internships.

CrowdStrike Inc., a global cybersecurity leader, established the Foundation and the scholarship program in 2017 to nurture and develop the next generation of talent and research in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI).

According to the 2021 CrowdStrike Global Threat Report, in just two years, there has been a fourfold increase in the number of interactive cyber intrusions involving the use of hands-on-keyboard techniques. Conversely, the development and adoption of AI technology is also on the rise across a variety of industries. As a result, more academic institutions are adding cybersecurity and AI programs to their curriculums to help meet anticipated job market growth.

Applicants must be current undergraduates, graduate students or high school seniors who will be enrolled full-time at a college/university in the United States or Canada in the fall of 2021, majoring in cybersecurity or AI and attaining a minimum 3.30 GPA. Recipients will be selected based on academic achievement, essay content, expressed career interest and work/internship/volunteer experience in cybersecurity, AI or related fields.

The scholarship program is administered by International Scholarship and Tuition Services, Inc. (ISTS), an independent company that specializes in managing sponsored educational assistance programs. ISTS hosts the online application process, responds to applicant inquiries and performs preliminary ranking for the selection process. For more information about the program and to begin the application process, visit https://www.crowdstrike.org/scholarships.html. The deadline to apply is May 5, 2021.

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About the CrowdStrike Foundation
CrowdStrike, a leader in cloud-delivered endpoint and workload protection, established the CrowdStrike Foundation to nurture and develop the next generation of talent and research in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI). The CrowdStrike Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Major programs of the CrowdStrike Foundation include:

• NextGen Scholarship Program for undergraduate and graduate students studying cybersecurity and/or AI
• Funding research in cybersecurity and/or AI programs
• Pro bono security software protection for nonprofit/nongovernmental organizations
• Support for communities through philanthropy, volunteering, and other activities

More information on the CrowdStrike Foundation’s programs can be accessed on the foundation’s website.

Contact
The CrowdStrike Foundation
Webbo Chen, 925-212-4622
webbo.chen@crowdstrike.com

Panels, workshops, and tournaments highlight two-day event April 10-11 for colleges and universities across the country

YPSILANTI, MICHIGAN (April 1, 2021) — Global esports organization Gen.G and its partners Eastern Michigan University, and the University of Kentucky (UK) announced plans today to launch its first ever Work From Home: The NetWORK, a conference designed to provide professional development in esports and gaming.  Scheduled for April 10-11, 2021 virtually, the two-day event will offer panels, content and tournaments led by esports professionals, content creators, esports front office executives and collegiate players and coaches, and will be streamed live on twitch.tv/gengesports.

Panels will include topics on career paths and opportunities in esports, how to get hired in esports, collegiate conference panels, tips and tricks for content creation, how to run an esports organization at school, art & gaming, coaching in esports, and journalism in esports.

Fireside chats will include topics on working in an esports front office and building a path to becoming a pro esports athlete.

Guests include a broad cross section of the industry, including esports personalities OWL Pro Dustin “Dogman” Bowerman, MISSHARVEY of Counter Logic Gaming, gaming creators Jessica Kim & mrwootwoot, and industry professionals, including Riot Games Sr. Motion Graphics Artist Dave Felton & Gen.G Marketing Manager Jourdan Kerl.  Panels will be moderated by students, including some 2020 winners of the Gen.G Scholarship Foundation.

The event will also feature collegiate esports tournaments across League of Legends, VALORANT and Rocket League offering a $1000 grand prize to each winner of the tournaments.  Schools from across the country will be invited to participate.

“Our partnership with Gen.G continues to elevate to new heights as we bring together some of the best talent in the nation to offer professional development for students seeking a career in esports and gaming,” said James Smith, President of Eastern Michigan University. “We’ll also have some fun watching schools compete in our tournament to take home the grand prize.”

“Education is so critically important for Gen.G, and we are focused on developing the next generation to work in our industry,” said Chris Park, CEO of Gen.G. “This event is a true testament to the collaboration among Gen.G, Eastern Michigan, UK, partners and speakers to create a unique experience for students.”

Eastern Michigan and UK have collaborated on several integrations including tournaments, summer camps, charity streams, and most notably, as founding partners of the Gen.G Foundation, a $1 million commitment to developing the next-generation of leaders in the gaming industry over the next 10 years,  The fund will be used to support women, people of color, and low income students enrolled in a United States university or college who are interested in majoring in gaming, esports, entrepreneurship, journalism or content creation.

About Gen.G
Established in 2017, Gen.G is the only major organization that owns and operates top teams in South Korea, the United States, and China. Ranked no. 6 in the inaugural Forbes list of the “World’s Most Valuable Esports Companies,” Gen.G’s core mission is to help fans and athletes use the power of gaming and esports to get ahead in and beyond the competition. The company has quickly become a commercial and thought leader, building a global, inclusive and cross-cultural future for sports entertainment.

United under #TigerNation, Gen.G boasts seven global championships to date among their competitive teams which includes the Seoul Dynasty franchise of the Overwatch League, the LCK world champion team in South Korea, the world’s top all-female Fortnite team, PUBG, CS:GO, Valorant and the NBA 2K League’s historic expansion franchise in Shanghai.  Its widely acclaimed initiatives include #TeamBumble, the leading team platform for the empowerment of women in gaming, and the Gen.G Elite Esports Academy, the world’s first fully-integrated academic esports program in Seoul. More information about Gen.G esports and its teams can be found at this link.

Media Contact:
Gen.G:
GenG@DKCnews.com

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Online registration is now open, tournament runs April 9-11; Former UK star Immanuel Quickley to defend title

LEXINGTON, KY (March 31, 2021) – Global esports organization Gen.G and the University of Kentucky today announced details for the return of its popular Hoops at Home NBA 2K tournament which will take place April 9-11. The tournament will provide the opportunity for players to participate in a distinctive NBA 2K basketball experience on twitch.tv/universityofky, connecting and unifying the community.

Former UK basketball star and current New York Knicks guard, Immanuel Quickley, will play in the finals to defend his title. The event will be hosted by Jeff Eisenband and Erin Ashley Simon throughout the broadcast.

“I’m really excited to be a part of Big Blue Nation’s Hoops at Home tournament for the second year in a row and defend my title,” said Quickley. “Esports is a great way to bring together our community and have fun connecting with other UK fans around the country. I’m looking forward to seeing who is going to challenge me for the Hoops at Home crown.”

Building on UK’s rich basketball tradition, a bracket of 64 members of the UK community will compete for the championship by going to go.uky.edu/hoops, now accepting submission. This year the winner of Hoops At Home will also win a $1,000 grand prize. Fans must be at least 13 years old and have a PlayStation 4 and the NBA 2K21 game. Fans will find out on April 7 during the Selection Show, if they were selected based on all skill levels and online connectivity that will comprise the four brackets of 16 members.

“This year’s tournament is going to be action packed and will be a great way to keep that Wildcat energy going as we hope this virtual event helps showcase the endless possibilities in and around the UK community as it relates to esports,” said Julien Benichou, Director of Partnership Activations at Gen.G. “Last year’s tournament brought so much spectacle and engagement and as the esports space continues to grow, we look forward to not only this year’s tournament but the natural evolution of our continued partnership with UK and bringing world-class ideas and activations to campus and the community.”

“We remain committed to the health, safety, and well-being of our entire community and part of that commitment is providing unique virtual opportunities to help students remain connected from afar,” said Heath Price, Associate CIO at University of Kentucky. “We can’t wait to see all the action this year and are excited to connect with our students, our community and everyone in Big Blue Nation.”

The Round of 64 and 32 on April 9, Round of 16 and Round of 8 on April 10 and the Round of Four and Championship on April 11 and the final “boss battle” with Immanuel Quickley on April 19. All games will begin at 5 pm ET. Fans are encouraged to use #HoopsatHome, #BetterTogetherUKY, #UKxGenG, #HoopsatHome and #NBA2K_UK on their social media channels to connect.

Gen.G and the University of Kentucky continue to bring best-in-class esports activations to the community and remain committed to building the next generation of esports leaders around the country. The two have partnered together since 2019 bringing together engaging virtual events, activations, and initiatives over the last two years including the UK Esports Invitational on March 12-14 which featured 10 athletic rivals competing in League of Legends, VALORANT and Rocket League, as well as the “Give Health for Kentucky Kids” charity program.

About Gen.G
Established in 2017, Gen.G is the leading esports organization connecting the United States and Asia. Ranked no. 6 in the Forbes list of the “World’s Most Valuable Esports Companies,” Gen.G is the only major organization that owns and operates top teams in the world’s leading esports markets — China, South Korea and the United States. Its unique portfolio of teams, winners of seven global championships to date, includes the Seoul Dynasty franchise of the Overwatch League; 2014 and 2017 League of Legends world champion team in South Korea; the world’s top all-female Fortnite team, based in Los Angeles; and the NBA 2K League’s historic expansion franchise in Shanghai.

United under #TigerNation, Gen.G’s core mission is to help fans and athletes use the power of gaming and esports to get ahead in and beyond the competition. The company has quickly become a commercial and thought leader, building a global, inclusive and cross-cultural future for sports entertainment. Its widely acclaimed initiatives include: #TeamBumble, the leading team platform for the empowerment of women in gaming; and Gen.G Elite Esports Academy, the world’s first fully-integrated academic esports program. Gen.G’s teams, content creators and corporate staff work out of their offices in Los Angeles, Seoul and Shanghai. More information about Gen.G esports and its teams can be found at this link.

About the University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky is increasingly the first choice for students, faculty and staff to pursue their passions and their professional goals. In the last two years, Forbes has named UK among the best employers for diversity, and INSIGHT into Diversity recognized us as a Diversity Champion four years running. UK is ranked among the top 30 campuses in the nation for LGBTQ* inclusion and safety. UK has been judged a “Great College to Work for” three years in a row, and UK is among only 22 universities in the country on Forbes’ list of “America’s Best Employers.” We are ranked among the top 10 percent of public institutions for research expenditures — a tangible symbol of our breadth and depth as a university focused on discovery that changes lives and communities. And our patients know and appreciate the fact that UK HealthCare has been named the state’s top hospital for five straight years. Accolades and honors are great. But they are more important for what they represent: the idea that creating a community of belonging and commitment to excellence is how we honor our mission to be not simply the University of Kentucky, but the University for Kentucky.

Media Contact:
Gen.G:
GenG@DKCnews.com

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The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines, has announced an expansion of its Fellowship program from a total distribution of $615,000 to $649,000 beginning in 2021. The additional funding will allow the Society to support 62 fellowships for outstanding students entering their first year of graduate or professional study and increase the Society’s robust awards program to distribute more than $1 million each year to outstanding members.

Established in 1932, the Fellowship Program annually provides funding to first-year graduate students who are pursuing post-baccalaureate degrees across all academic disciplines. Endorsed by their local chapter, Phi Kappa Phi Fellows go on to study at some of the nation’s top graduate schools.

“Phi Kappa Phi is well known for the awards it makes available to active members and students on campuses where we have a chapter,” Society Executive Director Dr. Mary Todd said. “Since the first fellowship was awarded in 1932, our portfolio of awards has grown exponentially in number and funding, all made possible by the generosity of our donors. That’s why we’ve adopted the phrase ‘Awards are what we do.’ It’s a joy to enable the love of learning to expand through the support provided to our community of scholars.”

Beginning this year, Phi Kappa Phi will award four additional fellowships at $8,500 each. These newly endowed Bond Fellowships named for Victoria and L.D. Bond will support two top-scoring nominees in the arts, music and/or literature and two top-scoring nominees in the fields of mathematics or information technology.

The selection process for a fellowship is based on the applicant’s evidence of graduate potential, undergraduate academic achievement, service and leadership experience, letters of recommendation, personal statement of educational perspective and career goals and acceptance in an approved graduate or professional program.

Phi Kappa Phi Fellowships are part of the Society’s robust awards program which distribute more than $1 million each year to outstanding members through study abroad grants, graduate and dissertation fellowships, funding for postbaccalaureate development, member and chapter awards, and grants for local, national and international literacy initiatives.

The application process for the 2021 Fellowship Program is currently open and will close on April 15. Each active Phi Kappa Phi chapter may submit one candidate from among its local applicants to compete Society-wide for a fellowship.

To learn more about the fellowships and other Society awards, please visit www.phikappaphi.org/awards.

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About Phi Kappa Phi
Founded in 1897, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Phi Kappa Phi inducts approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni annually. The Society has chapters on more than 325 select colleges and universities in the United States and the Philippines. Membership is by invitation only to the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students and 7.5 percent of juniors. Faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction also qualify. The Society’s mission is “To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and engage the community of scholars in service to others.” For more information, visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org.

Media Contact
Alyssa Perez
Communications Director
aperez@phikappaphi.org
(225) 923-7777