News & Notables

St. Thomas Wins 2022 SCAC Esports Showdown Title

At the SCAC league’s third Esports Showdown, the University of St. Thomas edged out Colorado College to win its first SCAC Esports team title. In all, 170 students and coaches were on hand at Schreiner University in Kerrville, Texas, where teams from eight schools competed in League of Legends (LoL), Overwatch, Valorant, Rocket League, Apex Legends and Super Smash Bros.

The UST team’s Overwatch title came down to the wire Saturday evening as St. Thomas and Colorado College jockeyed for points, highlighted by a head-to-head matchup between the two. The Celts made quick work of the Tigers, who were the two-time defending Overwatch champions, rolling to a short 4-0 victory in the best-of-seven Showdown.

With the completion of the Overwatch event, all eyes focused on the ongoing LoL final between St. Thomas and Trinity, where not only that game’s championship hung in the balance, but so did the SCAC Esports Showdown team title. 

A St. Thomas victory in LoL would also clinch the team championship for the Celts. Both Colorado College and St. Thomas finished with 12 total points, but UST claimed the team title by the Showdown tiebreaker.

UST entered the esports realm in 2020 and began competing in 2021. “It’s been a great feeling to see success early across multiple video game titles,” Assistant Director of Esports Justin Pelt said. “We’re also really excited about what we have coming up on the academic/internships side. We want to be known as an esports program that competes at the highest level and provides students opportunities to get hands-on experience in the esports industry.”  

A Bright Education and Future for Foster Care Youth

As of March 2022, UST has seven new Celts in its pilot program for foster care students. These students aged out of the foster system at 16 and are now part of the program made possible by a partnership between UST, St. John’s Methodist Church and Cisco, the worldwide leader in technology that powers the internet. Studies indicate that within 18 months after foster care youth age out of the system, 40 to 50% become homeless. 

Through its Networking Academy, Cisco is donating the curriculum to allow students to develop a working knowledge of IP addressing schemes and foundational network security. The positions in this field include network administrator and network designer with a potential yearly salary of up to $78,000. Through its MAX Innovation Office, the University coordinates the UST education location, free computer equipment, faculty, and tutoring and career services counseling. St. John’s works with its other partners for housing, food and mentorship. If the pilot is successful, UST will launch the full-scale program in July 2022.

“UST is always looking for ways to advance the human potential,” UST President Richard Ludwick said. “Guided by an imperative to honor the dignity of each human person, we are eager to participate in this pilot. It combines offering the latest technological skills to students with our impulse for Catholic social teaching. That’s a win for the student, society and all involved.”  

Pictured from (L to R): Justin Hayward, Wesley Alfred, Angel Jackson, Antoine McCloud, Ronald Smith, Kevin Winberry and Chauncey McCloud.

ST. THOMAS PROMISE

GAME CHANGER! FREE TUITION OFFER
Get ready! Under its bold, new St. Thomas Promise program, UST will offer FREE tuition to eligible full-time, first-year students admitted for fall 2022. Prospective students must have a 3.4 GPA or higher and $40,000 or less in family income. Qualified students must file the FAFSA form and be eligible for federal and state aid. For filing, UST’s FAFSA Code is 003654. This St. Thomas Promise of free tuition also includes free tutorial services plus a mentor for the first year to help ensure a successful transition to college. The Promise is renewable for up to four years. 

“The St. Thomas Promise allows us to deliver the same excellent private education that UST is known for to deserving students who would not otherwise be able to afford college,” President Ludwick said. “It’s a huge opportunity for these students that will change people’s lives and financial situations, and it is right in line with our Catholic mission.” 

To apply visit stthom.edu/promise.

Become a Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant

UST recently signed an articulation agreement with Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) and its Master of Science in Anesthesia Program (MSAP), conveniently located right across the street from UST! Certified anesthesiologist assistants are involved in direct patient care as part of an anesthesia care team for patients undergoing surgical procedures. The agreement with CWRU allows six qualified UST students to be selected yearly for a guaranteed interview and an early decision for admissions into their master’s program.

Also, UST has a new post-baccalaureate certificate in pre-anesthesiologist assistant studies, in which UST’s post-baccalaureate students will have the opportunity to complete most of the MSAP pre-req courses at UST. Post-baccs can also be selected to participate in the UST and CWRU master in anesthesia program agreement.

Please contact Dr. Gabriel Villares for more information regarding UST’s Health Professions Programs at HPAC@stthom.edu.