First-year esports management student Abigail Haenggi ’25 is one of 30 female gamers across the country to earn a prestigious esports grant.
The JBL Quantum Grant with 1,000 Dreams Fund program was started to help improve gender representation and create a more inclusive environment for women in gaming. JBL is a sound system audio company. To be eligible for the award, applicants must be a woman in the esports industry and of college age or older.
Haenggi, from Fairfield, New Jersey, applied for the scholarship because she’s been working in the industry since she was 16. Through the grant, applicants can potentially receive a mentorship with some of the women at the company 100 Thieves, a lifestyle brand and gaming organization.
Haenggi said her collegiate goals are to be able to play on the Valorant team and to learn more about the esports industry. She also would like to get an internship within the esports industry while in college.
“Winning this scholarship was just so shocking to me,” Haenggi said. “It means so much because my dream is to be able to manage a pro team one day or create my own pro team within the league, so being able to win something so big that can kinda get me out there is just great.”