Presidential communication

Letter from the President

Office of the President, president@uidaho.edu | Oct. 16, 2026

Dear Vandals,

One of the University of Idaho’s most successful sports clubs is also one of its newest. Vandal Esports hauled in four Big Sky Conference titles and three national championships last year ─ not bad for a program that began just three years ago.

With more than 100 active student-athletes and its own broadcast and social media support, Vandal Esports engages students and connects the university with audiences online. The club provides competition, camaraderie and work-study jobs.

Ciena Salerno, a junior from Troy, joined the team last year and works as a social media manager, boosting visibility for the program. She posted a recent Instagram reel that drew more than 3 million views and 212,000 likes.

“I think Vandal Esports is an incredible opportunity for students who have a strategic mindset, want to compete and also connect with other people,” Salerno said.

Competing in the Eastern College Athletic Conference this fall, the Vandals take on teams from all over the country. This month’s foes include Penn State, Tennessee, George Washington and Northeastern, among others. The Vandals also play in-person matches regionally. They hosted Washington State last week, and they take on Columbia Basin College in Richland, Washington, this weekend.

Wayne Ebenroth saw the potential for esports at the U of I while working on his undergraduate degree in accounting. He combined his passion and entrepreneurial drive to build a team that is winning national titles.

“My oldest kid actually wrote an article about how esports should be included in the Olympics, and I thought she was crazy, but I read her paper, and there was actually a lot of solid backing for it,” Ebenroth said. “That started me down the rabbit hole of asking why we didn’t have an esports program here. There was an opportunity, and I had the right skill set and the right background.”  

Ebenroth has since helped the team secure funding for equipment and travel. Some schools across the country provide thousands of dollars in scholarships for esports athletes, which he would love to offer Vandal competitors. But even with limited resources, the U of I team is competing at a high level. Last year, the team won national titles in Rocket League, League of Legends and Counter-Strike 2. The Vandals also took Big Sky championships in StarCraft II, Rivals of Aether 2, Rainbow Six Siege and Street Fighter 6.

Salerno said she can’t compete at the level of many of the Vandal Esports players, but she’s found an exciting role promoting the teams.

“I loved the community here — that’s what really got me to plant my feet in esports,” she said. “Everyone was welcoming, friendly and excited to be here. I knew I could be myself and that I would be supported and encouraged.”

Salerno aspires to work in the esports industry after graduation, and she enjoys showcasing the top gamers on campus.

“It’s one of the fastest-growing industries out there,” Salerno said of the esports field. “I really want to pursue team management or PR in esports. I’ve gained a lot of experience applying what I’ve learned in my PR classes. I like to create conversations and bring people together. At the end of the day, we’re all enjoying a game that we love.”

At the U of I, students get a campus experience that goes beyond academics. We’re proud of our Vandal Esports program and the rich community that Ebenroth and our students have built over the past three years.

Go Vandals!

C. Scott Green
President

Snapshots

Bukvich discusses the origins of the American drum kit

Professor Dan Bukvich explores the American drum kit’s evolution from military snares to a global percussion blend on “The Vandal Theory” podcast. He demonstrates rock versus jazz techniques, highlights influential players and offers practical advice for aspiring drummers developing their fundamental skills and musical appreciation.
Listen to “The Vandal Theory”.

Stream Team shines light on 4-H

The 4-H Stream Team, a youth digital media club led by UI Extension Educator Teresa Balderamma, livestreams Idaho fair competitions and produces content that reaches thousands of people. This group builds technical skills while connecting families and communities to 4-H events they might otherwise miss.
Learn more about the stream team.

Join the IDAHO campaign for Vandal Athletics

Vandal fans are encouraged to join the I Donate a Hundred in October (IDAHO) campaign this month. Donors who give $100 or more to the Vandal Scholarship Fund will receive a Forged in Idaho hat and be recognized on the online donor wall.
Learn more and donate.

Did you know?

The U of I and the Moscow Arts Commission recently unveiled the 2027 Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival poster. It features artwork by U of I alumnus Reinaldo Gil Zambrano.