Humber Polytechnic's Esports program has been named the 2025 Emerging Program of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) — making history as the first Canadian collegiate program to receive this honour. 

NACE is the largest governing body for varsity esports in North America, supporting more than 240 colleges and universities and over 5,000 student athletes. The association plays a critical role in shaping the future of collegiate gaming through program development, competition standards, and student opportunities. 

The award recognizes programs that have shown exceptional growth, innovation, and student engagement within a short period. Humber Esports stood out among its peers for its commitment to inclusive, career focused programming that spans competitive play, broadcasting, marketing, and operations. 

The award was presented at the 2025 NACE National Convention held in Dallas, Texas, where Bernard Mafei, senior administrator of Humber Esports, accepted the honour.  

“This recognition reflects the incredible work and passion of our student staff, varsity players, and the entire Humber community,” said Mafei. “We’ve built something special, and this award is just the beginning.” 

Since Mafei joined Humber in Fall 2023, Humber Esports has evolved into a campus-wide platform that engages students across multiple faculties. Through a blend of competitive success, academic integration, and co-curricular opportunities, the program has become a model for how post-secondary institutions can embed esports into student life, digital fluency, and workforce development. From hands-on training in broadcasting to student-led content and event production, Humber Esports is equipping learners with future-ready skills that extend far beyond the game. 

To learn more about the Humber Esports program or to get involved, contact Ahmed Sagarwala at ahmed.sagarwala@humber.ca or Mafei at bernard.mafei@humber.ca.