The St. Clair Saints Esports program celebrated another award-winning season at the Annual National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) Awards, earning six national honours while earning recognition as finalists in several additional categories.
The Saints were winners in the following categories:
- Director of the Year - Shaun Byrne
- Assistant Director of the Year - Chris Funston
- Support Staff of the Year - Valerie Shih-Lau
- Broadcast Producer of the Year - Hayden King
- Student Leadership Award - Alexa Kovacevich
The NACE awards were voted on by over 170 membership institutions in addition to a voting panel of industry professionals.
"It's an incredible feeling to be recognized by your peers because they understand what it takes to build a successful program," said Assistant Esports Director Chris Funston. "'Excellence in all we do' isn't just a motto, it's our standard. We're never satisfied, and we'll keep raising the bar for what a collegiate esports program can be by putting student success at the centre of everything we do."
"Although this award has my name on it, it's really a reflection of the environment we have created here at St. Clair," said Esports Marketing & Events Manager Valerie Shih-Lau. "My students and coworkers' trust in me has allowed me to take chances and grow as a leader. I'm proud to be part of a program that puts student success at the center of everything."
"It's an honour to be recognized with the Student Leadership Award," said Alexa Kovacevich. "Even to be nominated alongside so many incredible student leaders in collegiate esports is unbelievable. Students are the driving force behind every successful program, and being recognized for this means so much."
The Saints also took home the Director's Cup for the second time in the past three years. The award recognizes the program with the highest performance and competitive success across all titles based on results from the NACE Varsity seasonal competitions.
"These recognitions are a testament to a program that refuses to settle," said Adam Stanley, NACE Board of Directors Chair-Elect and Director of Esports at Baylor University. "The entire staff at St. Clair College has displayed true passion, innovation, and commitment to students at every level. Their achievements inspire others to strive for the same level of impact."
St. Clair College was also named finalists for:
- Program of the Year
- Outstanding Event - Sakura Anime Fest
- Outstanding Marketing Team
- Outstanding Production Team
- Social Media Producer of the Year - Shane Thompson
The NACE Awards were held at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville this past week as part of the annual NACE Convention.
NACE is the only nonprofit membership association of colleges and universities with varsity esports programs. 170 schools across North America compete for NACE championships every year across a variety of esports titles.