Accounting Major Finds Her Competitive Edge in Esports
Mikella Pittman
Mikella Pittman may be an accounting and finance major at Edgecombe Community College, but her world isn’t just limited to payroll accounting, financial statements and spreadsheet formulas. The Tarboro native is also enamored with video games, and ECC’s newly installed Esports room caught her attention.
“When I first saw the setup, I thought it was really cool,” stated an enthusiastic Pittman. “When I saw they have PlayStations, Xbox and another Nintendo Switch, I thought it would be an opportunity to play on the different systems and gain a new experience with different games.”
That’s why Pittman enrolled in ECC’s inaugural Esports program. Starting Fall 2025, the competitive program positioned ECC against colleges across the country.
“We have already competed in several competitions,” said Denise Batts, information technology instructor and ECC’s gaming coach. According to Batts, the college participated in their first official match Nov. 4. Since then, students have battled in Tekken 8, Mario Kart 8, Madden 26 and Hearthstone. Pittman won two rounds in her debut Mario Kart 8 matchup.
“Overall, our players are doing great,” says Batts. “The more they play, the better they’ll get. The one thing they are seeing is the level of competition.”
So far, ECC has competed against colleges in Georgia, Texas, Virginia and Alabama. Competitions are held Monday through Thursday, and the Esports room is available on specific days for coaching and practice. Currently, ECC competes at the community, or D3 level. According to Batts, criteria differs for each division. To advance to the D1 or D2 level, competition is rigorous. Students must also be full-time, and grade point averages are reviewed.
Pittman encourages more students to join ECC’s growing Esports community. “Working with other people, having them share their experience, and having a shared interest—that’s really good,” she said. Scholarships are also available for qualifying students in the Esports program totaling $2,000 over two years.
To join ECC’s Esports program, call (252) 618-6526. To learn more about the Esports Scholars Scholarship, visit edgecombe.edu/scholarships.