US-based youth esports platform Vanta has partnered with the Southern University Law Center (SULC) to set up scholastic esports tournaments in the state of Louisiana, USA.
As per a release, the collaboration will see the duo create the SULC Louisiana Esports League.
Vanta will operate the tournaments, which are in partnership with the SULC’s Mixed Reality Virtual Innovation Gaming and Esports Institute. The pair aim to use the initiative to ‘inspire and empower the next generation of esports leaders’ by emphasising inclusivity, education and community engagement.’
Schools in the state will be able to register their participation for free and can enter teams into tiered tournaments. Teams can sign up for competitions in Fortnite, League of Legends, Tetris, Super Smash Bros and others.
Teams competing in the SULC Louisiana Esports League will take part in a pre-season and regular split from January to February before the top four teams in each game will play in a final tournament in late April.
Founded in 2020, Vanta is an esports platform known for operating scholastic leagues in the United States. The company raised $2.5m in 2022 and last April formed a partnership with tech company Esposure and the Collegiate Sports Management Group to run a youth-based esports championship in Texas.
On the new partnership, Chris Turner, Director of the SULC Mixed Reality Virtual Innovation Gaming and Esports Institute, said: “By offering this league free to all middle and high schools in Louisiana, we’re not just opening doors to competition but also to education and empowerment.
“This initiative is about lighting a spark of innovation and entrepreneurship among the youth, illustrating that the gaming industry holds immense potential for their future. We are crafting a narrative where esports is the beginning of a journey towards a world of opportunities, creativity, and professional growth.”
