One fact about Boise State Esports that some might not know is that the program supports not only undergraduate students, but also those pursuing master’s degrees. Peter Mittelbrun, a Valorant player for Boise State, is one such student. After earning his Bachelor’s in Marketing from the College of Business and Economics (COBE), Mittelbrun decided to continue his higher education journey and pursue a Master’s of Business Administration (MBA). He continues to find great competitive and academic success in the program as a graduate student.
Master’s Degree Benefits
In an interview, Mittelbrun said Boise State Esports Head Coach Doc Haskell approached him about pursuing a master’s degree in order to remain on the Boise State Valorant team. By choosing to stay on the team, Mittelbrun continues to receive all the benefits that varsity esports players enjoy, including scholarships, professional coaching, travel across the country to tournaments, and access to all the varsity facilities in the Boise State Esports Arena, just to name a few.
“I decided to join the [master’s] program because I wanted to learn about all aspects of business. And when Doc offered me the opportunity to continue playing Valorant, it was a no-brainer for me,” said Mittelbrun.
With his first year in the master’s program nearly complete, Mittelbrun has experienced a busy year traveling across the country for competitions.
“We started out going to Sacramento in the fall. Even though we fell short in that tournament, it was a great time,” said Mittelbrun. “We went to Hawaii, which was amazing because I had never been before. Getting to experience the culture was very fun. We also ended up winning the Hawaii Invitational, which was just the cherry on top of that trip.”
Throughout all the travel and competition, Mittelbrun says his esports career has helped him grow significantly as a person. Being part of a team not only creates lifelong friendships but also helps players like Mittelbrun develop teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership skills.
“I have definitely grown leadership skills and learned how to work with many different personality types,” said Mittelbrun. “I believe my biggest weakness that I’ve improved on during my time here is dealing with issues in a team environment. It’s a lot different than just a one-on-one issue and needs to be addressed differently. It’s based on a lot of communication and chemistry that is built over time by playing together. When a play needs to happen, it helps tremendously when our instincts are the same.”
Awards and Recognition
True to Boise State Esports’ pattern of success, Mittelbrun earned some major victories in the past year. He and the entire Valorant team won the Vanta Hawai’i Invitational this spring, earning a surfboard-shaped trophy for their achievement. Mittelbrun was also named a PEC All-American at the Allied Esports PEC Championship in Las Vegas.
Peter Mittelbrun’s competitive run as a graduate student highlights the excellent opportunities Boise State Esports offers to students—even after they’ve completed their undergraduate degrees. Whether someone is pursuing an associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, or even a Ph.D., Boise State Esports is ready and waiting to help competitive gamers achieve their potential.
Written by Jacob Palmer