OCTOBER 20, 2023 — A project between UTSA and Six Flags Fiesta Texas is getting the word out about some high-tech experiential opportunities available to students.
The ESIX Gaming Arena is a development between University Technology Solutions’ (UTS) Bold Careers Program, Roadrunner Gaming at UTSA and Six Flags. The arena has created experiential learning opportunities for Roadrunner gamers working for the venue, while also providing access to high-end gaming hardware to park-attendees.
With the esports field valued at over $1 billion—including players, teams, and sponsorships—there is a growing push for universities to embrace gaming, according to Vanessa Hammler Kenon.
“Partnerships are vital to keep up in the growing fields of esports and experiential learning,” said Kenon, who is the UTS associate vice president of technology compliance and community engagement.
ESIX was recently in the spotlight, during the 2023 Govtech Leadership Summit. UTS joined forces with TechTables, a design and technology podcast, to bring Govtech to San Antonio.
TechTables Founder Joe Toste said that the purpose of the summit was “to build upon the research excellence of the university with a real-time collaborative roundtable and boldly jumping into the future at the ESIX gaming arena at Six Flags Fiesta Texas.”
Local attendees included Craig Hopkins, chief information officer for the City of San Antonio; Jo Ana Alvarado, director of innovative technology for Opportunity Home San Antonio, formerly known as the San Antonio Housing Authority; and Kendra Ketchum, vice president for information management technology and CIO at UTSA.
The event, which was also a celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, featured a dinner at Mi Tierra Café y Panaderia. The dinner was an opportunity for participants to show their support for the city’s Hispanic leaders. The gathering at Mi Tierra also served to honor UTSA, a Hispanic Serving Institution that recently received recertification of the prestigious Seal of Excelencia.
For students enrolled in the Bold Careers Program, the summit was a chance to witness first hand exchanges of idea among participants.
“The leadership summit was a great opportunity to talk and connect with chief innovation officers from public and private sectors across the country on a more personal, comfortable environment compared to job fairs,” said Jacques Ballou, a student in the BBA cyber security program and Bold Careers intern. “I especially enjoyed listening to the panels on business management, leadership development and cybersecurity.”
By 2028, UTSA aims to have 75% of its students participate in one or more experiential learning opportunities. Initiatives such as the UTS Bold Careers Program are helping the university to reach that goal.
UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.
This workshop explores the intersection of digital activism, data collection, and visualization techniques in the context of gender-based violence and feminist movements. Participants will learn how to harness the power of GraphCommons to create impactful visualizations that can amplify marginalized voices and reveal hidden patterns in complex social issues.
CEDISH Co-Lab 3.02.38, 3rd Floor, John Peace LibraryJoin UTSA’s Carlos Alvarez College of Business and the UTSA Small Business Development Center for a Preview Event to learn more about SURE@UTSA—a transformative program that has empowered over 700 businesses to achieve growth and long-term success.
Durango Building (DB 2.316,) Downtown CampusA roundtable discussion that will explore the impact of documenting LGBTQ+ oral histories and the unique challenges of sharing these stories.
UTSA Westside Community Center, 1310 Guadalupe St. San Antonio 78207Have questions about making your OER accessible on UTSA Pressbooks? The OER Team and the Digital Accessibility Team are ready to answer them! Please bring your questions about OER and accessibility and receive guidance from our two teams.
Virtual EventThe University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.
