Esports, or competitive video gaming, is a fast-growing phenomenon that offers numerous educational, social, and career benefits for students. Schools and colleges are establishing Esports teams and Paul Bunyan Communications is leading the way locally and nationally in providing Esports opportunities to our members.
Get an Esports program started at your school!
Our cooperative has established an Esports sponsorship program to help schools start and/or maintain an Esports program.
We have partnered with Fenworks in Grand Forks to provide our local schools and colleges with guidance on how to set up/maintain an Esports program, virtual coaches to help coach the teams, and help to facilitate competitions locally and regionally in South Dakota, North Dakota, and Minnesota. This support also includes gaming hardware.
If your school is interested in this opportunity, please contact us.
Esports fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and strategic planning.
Many games emphasize teamwork, communication, and adaptability—skills that are valuable in academics and beyond.
Students involved in Esports often develop time management and goal-setting abilities.
Esports is a billion-dollar industry, creating careers in game design, broadcasting, marketing, and management.
Colleges and universities across the nation now offer Esports scholarships and programs, providing students with pathways to higher education.
Esports is uniquely inclusive, welcoming students of all abilities, backgrounds, and skill levels.
It offers a way for students who may not traditionally participate in athletics or other activities to find a community where they can thrive.
Studies show that students involved in extracurricular activities like Esports demonstrate higher levels of engagement, attendance, and academic achievement.
Among the 2023-24 Esports season participants in ND, SD, and MN, 80% participated in no other after school organized activity. Esports can engage a group of students who otherwise may not participate in any extracurriculars.
Esports Teams
By supporting local Esports programs, we’re helping students build valuable skills both in and out of the game – leadership, communication, critical thinking, and collaboration – all while creating new opportunities for connection and competition. That’s why we’re proud to support the growing world of Esports across our service territory. We’re honored to back these Esports teams.
Voyageurs Expeditionary School
Red Lake Nation College
Park Rapids High School
Red Lake High School & Middle School
Bemidji State University & Northwest Technical College
Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College Esports & GigaZone Esports Lounge
We’re excited to partner with Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College on launching their first-ever esports program, expected to begin in 2026 as a club sport with aspirations of growing into a varsity team.
As a longtime supporter of BSU, NTC, and the Bemidji community, we are proud to continue investing in education, technology, and community development. This latest collaboration includes the creation of the GigaZone Esports Lounge, a dedicated space designed to support the program and foster innovation, competition, and connection. The GigaZone Esports Lounge will be located on BSU’s campus on the 3rd floor of Bridgeman Hall.
Students and future students are encouraged to get involved – whether as gamers, analysts, tech enthusiasts, or fans of innovation.
Gaming Competition
We were thrilled to debut the GigaZone High School Invitational at the 2025 GigaZone Gaming Championship in partnership with our friends at Fenworks. This exciting new event brought together talented high school Esports teams from across the region for a day of intense competition, teamwork, and fun. Cash prizes were awarded to the top three teams, honoring their skill, dedication, and passion for gaming. We are proud to support the next generation of gamers and tech leaders, and we look forward to seeing where their journeys take them next.
One of the largest rural gaming events in the United States held annually in April at the Sanford Center in Bemidji.
The GigaZone Gaming Championship was first held in 2016 and features free gaming tournaments for cash/prizes along with open arcade gaming for all. It is free to attend and free to game.
All members of Paul Bunyan Communications have free access to the Fiber Gaming Network
The Fiber Gaming Network is a nationwide gaming platform with weekly community game nights and tournaments featuring poppular games such as Super Smash Bros Ultimate, Minecraft, Fortnite, Rocket League, and more. It is FREE for all members of Paul Bunyan Communications! Compete or watch the livestreams for a chance to win great giveaways.
Game with us! Join the GigaZone Gaming Discord server.
There are GigaZone Game Nights, gaming clips where you can post your own stream, plus a self promotion channel where you can post your links to get more followers. You can also keep up to date on the annual GigaZone Gaming Championship and TechXpo.
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Paul Bunyan Communications Cooperative Headquarters
1831 Anne St. NW Bemidji, MN 56601
888-586-3100 or 218-444-1234
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510 SE 21st Street, Grand Rapids, MN 55744
888-586-3100 or 218-999-1234
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Paul Bunyan Communications is an equal opportunity provider and employer.