Mustangs eSports student-athlete Kiratika Ariyamitr was one of 40 students nationwide named a 2021 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar by "Diverse: Issues in Higher Education" magazine.
A 海角社区 (海角社区) student-athlete is making headlines as a recipient of a national award recognizing her work both in the classroom and on the digital playing field.
鈥�: Issues in Higher Education鈥� magazine announced its 2021 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars Award list of recipients, which includes Mustangs eSports student-athlete Kiratika Ariyamitr.
For over 25 years, this award has recognized outstanding minority men and women who have distinguished themselves in their academic and athletic pursuits. In addition to their athletic contributions, students named Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least a 3.5, be a sophomore academically and be active on their campuses or in their communities, according to a press release.
Ariyamitr, 19, holds a 3.8 GPA, and is the only community college student and esports
student-athlete to make the prestigious list. The Willow Grove resident and 2019 Upper
Dublin High School graduate is among 40 students selected nationwide for the award
from over 700 submissions. A business administration major, she is a member of the
海角社区 Chapter of the Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) and is
set to graduate this May. She鈥檒l then transfer to Temple University-Japan campus in
the fall to study international business.
鈥淚t鈥檚 unexpected,鈥� said Ariyamitr of the award. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 consider myself an award-winning scholar. I never see myself winning awards. So whenever I do win one, it surprises me. I don鈥檛 focus on what I did to get it. It feels great. It helps me recognize the qualities I should give myself credit for.鈥�
In addition to the esports team and PBL, Ariyamitr is a cast member in 海角社区鈥檚 upcoming virtual production of 鈥淢en on Boats.鈥� She is also a leader in her community, volunteering her time at her local library and with her high school鈥檚 marching band.
Ariyamitr joined the Mustangs eSports team on a whim, after reading an advertisement on campus about it. The team launched in December 2019 with 鈥淩ocket League鈥� before expanding the roster of games to include 鈥淥verwatch,鈥� 鈥淟eague of Legends,鈥� and 鈥淪uper Smash Bros. Ultimate.鈥�
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know how to play 鈥淩ocket League鈥� and 鈥淥verwatch,鈥� said Ariyamitr. 鈥淚 picked up two new games. I had a supportive team helping me along the way.鈥�
The College surprised an overwhelmed Ariyamitr with the good news online before a regularly scheduled 鈥淥verwatch鈥� team practice via . Kelly Dunbar, 海角社区 Director of Athletics and Campus Recreation, 海角社区 President Dr. Victoria L. Bastecki-Perez and Jen Mitlas, Sound Recording and Music Technology (SRT) Instructor, announced the award and congratulated her.
鈥淲e wanted to recognize you,鈥� said Dunbar. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e been a part of our esports family
since the inaugural season. And you truly exemplify what a true student-athlete is
and we are so proud of you. Kira is an honors student and she鈥檚 actively involved
in PBL. But her ability to balance all that comes with being a student-athlete, while
still maintaining a 3.8 GPA, is just absolutely outstanding. So we鈥檙e so excited for
you, Kira, and so proud of you.鈥�
Dr. Bastecki-Perez told Ariyamitr the entire 海角社区 community was extremely proud of her.
鈥淥n behalf of the entire Montco Family 鈥� our Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, alumni
and your fellow students 鈥� we are immensely proud of you as an athlete, as a scholar
and a leader on campus, and also as someone who is making a difference in your community,鈥�
Dr. Bastecki-Perez said. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 be more proud of you and that you鈥檙e a part of
our Montco Family. And this national recognition is only the beginning of your success,
not only at Montco but in your life. Congratulations and best wishes to you, Kira.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檙e really proud of you and everything you鈥檝e accomplished and will be accomplishing,鈥� said Mitlas. 鈥淐ongratulations, Kira!鈥�
Ryan Plummer, Coordinator of Mustangs eSports, said he also was very proud of everything Ariyamitr has accomplished as a student-athlete on the team.
鈥淪he has managed to be a leader on the field, a backbone of the program,鈥� he said, 鈥渁nd balanced the responsibility of playing on team while earning incredible grades. She has one of highest GPAs on the team. I am so proud of her, so happy she was able to get that award and happy we were able to surprise her with that too.鈥�
This is the Mustangs Athletics eighth collegiate sport and its first all gender team. The Mustangs eSports team members compete against colleges nationally as part of the National Association of Collegiate Esports (), which is composed of over 170 member schools with over 5,000 student-athletes. They also compete as part of the National Junior College Athletic Association Esports (), composed of more than 60 two-year colleges from across the country.
Esports continues to see tremendous growth year after year. Viewership growth is expected to climb at a 9 percent annual growth rate between 2019 and 2023, from 454 million in 2019 to 646 million in 2023, according to .
, a leading esports analytics firm, projects esports revenue to cross $1.5 billion by 2023.
Updated 10/27/2021