Former Bobcat Esports Vice President and OU Overwatch founder comes back fall semester to assist the university
Ivy O’Shaugnessy graduated from OU in 2020 with a Bachelor’s in Communications with an emphasis in game design and a Minor in Business. During her time at OU, she helped found and establish the university’s Overwatch club, a popular competitive first-person shooter, as well as solidify Bobcat Esport’s position as the university’s hub for those interested in competitive gaming during her time as vice president of the organization.
Ever since O’Shaugnessy helped found and establish the OU Overwatch team during her sophomore year in 2018, the organization has grown exponentially. The team scrimmages against other schools and holds routine practices for players to hone their skills individually and as a team. The team has also attended tourneys and played against other schools including OSU, Kent, and Akron.
During her time at Bobcat Esports from her sophomore year to early senior year, she, along with Kristofer Meyeres and numerous officers, worked to weave all the esports-oriented club under the umbrella of Bobcat Esports. Prior to the foundation of Bobcat Esports, the competitive gaming clubs at OU were decentralized and independent from one another. After 2018, OU experienced many new esports centered clubs pop up, and also witnessed them take place in a more structured environment, under Bobcat Esports.
Bobcat Esports has become increasingly popular since its conception. In 2018 when it first began, the organization had around 30 students involved, but now there are around 200. The number of officers has also dramatically increased from around six to the current 15. The increase of involvement is not only seen in Bobcat Esports, but also trending in nearly all other esports-focused clubs at OU as well.
O’Shaugnessy will be coming back to Athens this fall for a one-year esports residency where she will be working closely with both the university and Bobcat Esports.
As of July 15, O’Shaugnessy began a fulltime position at OU, where she worked on the esports initiative. O’Shaugnessy will be working with the advancement officers under the title of a 2020-2021 Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Resident intern. CASE is an organization that hosts interns and promotes exploration for students interested in learning more about careers and fundraising in specific fields. For O’Shaugnessy’s position, she will primarily be focusing on the advancement of the esports program at Ohio University.
O’Shaugnessy is also assisting the Bobcat Esports club in finding and understanding the way that their organization will fit with the esports certificate and how their organization can increase their reach to more students.
Regarding the issue of maintaining interest during a pandemic, O’Shaugnessy suggests online watch parties through Twitch. In the past, Bobcat Esports has broadcasted such events, usually with high turnout from those interested in esports. O’Shaugnessy emphasized the social implications of a watch party, in which many of the users in chat have a platform to discuss the game or anything else they please. Many of the students in Bobcat Esports also have their own streams that they have been keeping active during this time.
O’Shaugnessy also mentioned Bobcat Esports and the club’s intentions to work with Athens High School in the future, particularly for building interest. O’Shaugnessy mentioned the possibility of having a summer camp in the future where Bobcat Esports could get future students involved.
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