SPC named founding member of national Power4+ HBCU eSports League

St. Philip's College (SPC) has been selected as a founding member of the Power4+ HBCU eSports League, a new national collegiate esports initiative created to expand competitive gaming and career development opportunities for students at historically Black colleges and universities.

As the nation's largest historically Black college and the only HBCU in San Antonio, St. Philip's College will help shape the league's development while expanding experiential learning opportunities for students in emerging industries.

The Power4+ HBCU eSports League was established through a three-year partnership between PlayVS, a leading scholastic and collegiate eSports platform, and Urban One, the nation's largest media company serving Black audiences.

The league is designed to provide structured collegiate eSports competition while preparing students for careers in technology, digital media, business, marketing, broadcasting, cybersecurity and information technology. Participating institutions will compete at no cost, removing financial barriers while providing access to national competition, professional development opportunities and industry partnerships.

"What excites me most isn't the competition; it's watching our students realize they belong in spaces they may have never imagined for themselves," said Nathaniel Martinez, career experience team lead at St. Philip's College. "This league gives them the opportunity to build confidence, develop professional skills and connect with a national network that's investing in the next generation of HBCU talent."

Competition is scheduled to begin in 2027. In the months leading up to the inaugural season, SPC will collaborate with fellow founding institutions to help establish league operations and develop pathways connecting students with careers in technology, digital media and other high-demand fields.