UTSA’s high-tech gaming internship program highlighted at recent summit in San Antonio

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.”

“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.

— Thomas Cooper, Maria Regina Chapa, and Annu Paavani Chemata Venkata