POWELL, WYOMING – The NJCAA Foundation has announced that Northwest College is one of four schools nationwide to receive a 2026 NJCAA Sport Opportunity Grant. The $1,250 grant will be used to purchase new jerseys for the Trapper esports team.
“The NJCAA Foundation is excited to further support the growth of NJCAA member colleges and the sport programs they offer through the NJCAA Sport Opportunity Grant,” said Andrew Givens, NJCAA Foundation Executive Director. “The ability to provide this funding is a testament to the importance and growth of two-year collegiate athletics. The NJCAA Foundation looks forward to this initiative’s impact as NJCAA member colleges continue to create opportunities for student-athletes across the country.”
The application and review process spanned several months, and Northwest College is working with Crit Apparel to produce the jerseys for the upcoming academic year.
“We’re excited to have this opportunity for new jerseys,” said NWC esports coach Chris Dugger. “We’ve had the same ones since we started the program in the fall of 2021, and it will be good to have something new we’ll be proud to wear.”
NWC was the first college in Wyoming to add esports to its intercollegiate athletic program. The team practices and competes in a dedicated state-of-the-art esports facility on campus, and has produced multiple national playoff qualifiers in the short time the team has been in existence.
The NJCAA Sport Opportunity Grant was created in 2021 to support the addition, growth, and sustainment of NJCAA sports. The grant is available for NJCAA member colleges to apply as they expand sport offerings at their institution while increasing student-athlete access and achievement. The grant will be awarded based on need and allotted funding.
About the NJCAA Foundation
The mission of the NJCAA Foundation is to enhance the NJCAA national organization, student-athletes, member colleges and local communities through financial support, scholarships, program initiatives and community service.