UAlbany Esports Partners with Wounded Warrior Project to Host Virtual Gaming Exhibition

Screenshot of Green Packers vs. Arizona Cardinals game in Madden during the virtual gaming exhibition.

ALBANY, N.Y. (April 27, 2021) – UAlbany eSports connected with service members from across the country on Saturday during a virtual gaming exhibition in partnership with Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP).

The event featured a series of Madden and League of Legends games that were live broadcast via the UAlbany eSports website. Teams were made up of a mix of students and wounded warriors, making for an afternoon of friendly competition that spanned time zones and locations.

President Rodríguez offers a video welcome prior to the start of the virtual gaming exhibition.
President Rodríguez offered a video welcome prior to the start of the virtual gaming exhibition.

It was the WWP’s first time hosting a virtual gaming event at the collegiate level, a partnership that UAlbany eSports program director Michael Leczinsky hopes to grow. 

“We were proud to partner with Wounded Warrior Project to give their service members a unique experience to connect with our students through Madden and League of Legends,” said Leczinsky, who is also a professor of practice in the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity. “We look forward to possibly expanding this event into a regular series and welcoming the warriors back as honorary members of our team.”  

“Gaming provides an opportunity to get veterans out of isolation and involved in their community,” said Jackie Green, WWP alumni peer leader and gaming team manager. “Working with UAlbany provided a new layer of competition and camaraderie that warriors enjoy.”

Since its launch in fall 2019, UAlbany eSports has grown to more than 100 competitors, representing all class years, majors and diverse backgrounds. The team has won multiple championships in the Eastern Athletic Conference and had a medal-winning finish at Lake Placid’s Empire State Winter Games.

Leczinsky has also prioritized community engagement. Along with the WWP partnership, UAlbany eSports raised $5,000 for the University’s Student Emergency Fund after a dominant showing in the first SUNY system-wide competitive video gaming tournament last spring.

WWP provides direct programs and services to more than 180,000 wounded warriors, caregivers, and family members. Thanks to generous donors, WWP is proud to offer these services free of charge.

More than 52,000 service members have been physically injured in recent military conflicts. An estimated 500,000 are living with invisible wounds, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and debilitating brain trauma.

To get involved and learn more, visit woundedwarriorproject.org.