SONIQS INAUGURAL SUMMER CAMPS CONCLUDED
Over two weeks in June, high school students from the greater Harrisburg area immersed themselves in the dynamic world of esports, gaining invaluable skills and experiences that will shape their futures at Soniqs and HU Storm’s inaugural summer camp.
The camp was led by industry professionals with a combined 30+ years of experience, offering a hands-on, fast-paced learning environment. Students delved into various aspects of esports, from competitive gameplay and strategy to the roles necessary to support and develop successful esports programs. This comprehensive approach allowed campers not only to hone their gaming skills but also had them gain a deeper understanding of the broader esports ecosystem.
Darren Moore, Soniqs CEO, highlighted the significance of the partnership with Harrisburg University.
"Our collaboration with HU allows us to nurture the next generation of esports professionals,” said Moore. “By exposing students to the diverse career paths within the industry, we are fostering a passion for esports that extends beyond just competing."
Held at the state-of-the-art Harrisburg LAN center, the HU Storm x Soniqs Esports Program provided campers with top-of-the-line equipment, including Intel NUC PCs with 12th Gen Intel Core i9-12900 CPUs and RTX 3060 TIs paired with ViewSonic 27-inch 1080p 240Hz IPS gaming monitors. This professional-grade setup, generously supported by key sponsors Intel and ViewSonic Gaming, allowed students to experience the same level of performance and quality utilized by professional esports athletes.
The program also benefited from the expertise of HU’s varsity collegiate esports team, the HU Storm, which has achieved national success with championships in League of Legends, Rocket League, and VALORANT. Michael Navarro, HU’s Director of Esports, emphasized the unique educational opportunities provided by the camp.
"Combining the knowledge bases of HU Storm and Soniqs, we've created a summer camp program that offers students the most thorough and up-to-date education about collegiate and professional esports,” said Navarro.
Students had the chance to interact with industry veterans, including Navarro, who shared insights from his extensive experience in esports broadcasting.
"Discovering the different career paths within esports was a game-changer for me," Navarro said. "Our camp aimed to show students the various opportunities available and how they can start working towards their goals."
With the conclusion of the first HU Storm x Soniqs Esports Program summer camps, Soniqs look forward to continuing programs that inspire the next generation of esports professionals.
