Russellville, Ark. (KATV) — The rise of professional gaming is a trend that has spread over the past couple of years, even into institutions.
Even as trends come and go, one student has been a part of Arkansas Tech University Esports club since its humble beginnings and is certain that it’s here to stay.
“I’ve never seen such growth in an organization,” said ATU Esports club president Hayden Eason. “Esports is on the rise, so that makes it a lot easier. We have people come here to Arkansas Tech, make a name for themselves and go on to play professionally. We’ve seen all sorts of things, and I love it. It makes me so happy to see people grow here and go on to do incredible things.”
From 20 member in the beginning to 60 members, Eason has had a first-hand point of view of the organization’s growth since he joined as a freshman.
“I came to ATU knowing one person,” said Eason. “I jumped into a club, didn’t know anyone in it and was thrown into a relative leadership position. It was a phenomenal experience. Everybody was so welcoming. Everybody wanted to know who you were and what do you enjoy doing. I’ve gained some incredible friendships that have made me who I am today. It’s the things you get involved with at Arkansas Tech that make your experience so great.”
The love for gaming that he has is shared with others in the club, ultimately opening doors for friendships along the way.
“Once you get involved, you’ll make friends for a lifetime,” continued Eason. “I want that, and I feel like I have that now because of Arkansas Tech, Esports club and everything else I’ve done. Getting involved has helped me so much,”
As Eason continues to reach for other skillsets, such as those of a leader, his experiences inside and outside of the classroom have fueled him to pour what he has learned back into his team in Esports.
The 2021 ATU Freshman Leadership Experience was where Eason began to embark on that journey towards leadership development on campus, eventually leading him to serving as Secretary of Internal Affairs for ATU Student Government during his senior year.
Eason learned early how important it is to instill trust and chemistry with other team members to keep competitive spirits high.
“I’ve learned how to delegate tasks,” said Eason. “When I became president (of the Esports club), I discovered that you can’t do it on your own. It’s never a solo act,” said Eason. “You’re always on a team of people. I had the best time the last two years working with some incredible officers, from vice presidents to development and engagement to social media to all these other things we’ve done. I couldn’t have done it without every single one of them.”
Eason is set to graduate this coming May with a Bachelor of Science degree in information technology.
He intends to continue studying at ATU, hopefully obtaining his Master of Science degree.
The new Ferguson Student Union, set to open in early 2026 will feature an Esports space, undoubtedly influenced by the impact of Eason and the rest of the team.
This new addition will help continue the expansion of Esports on the campus, as everyone will have the opportunity to be introduced to the program.
“The student body will be able to use the space, play games and hang out,” said Eason. “There will be a console booth with a giant TV where people can play video games on PlayStation, Xbox or Nintendo Switch. There will be another TV that will show Twitch streams and other Esports competitions. There will be a place to hang out, sit and watch our players. Then, there will be two side rooms built specifically with our Esports players in mind. They will have six computers each. We’ll be able to hold campus-wide competitions and tournaments as well as fun Esports club events. We’re really looking forward to it. We’re just extremely excited for what’s in store.”
