Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.

Major: Computer Science

Extracurriculars: Overwatch Esports

Hobbies: Competitive gaming, petting outdoor cats and cataloging them as new friends on my Instagram story, and being a bouncer at a renovated townhouse-turned-bar in Philadelphia.

What is your proudest accomplishment to date?

In less than two months, I completed the Helms Academy GED program at Temple University to get my GED completed after being a high school dropout for 5 years. Depression and anxiety ruined high school for me years ago, and I have since struggled to regain momentum with education and get my life in the direction I wanted it to. I had always stayed working from job to job, supporting myself and moving up that way, but never took the time to really buckle down and give myself the education and skills I needed to move forward in life and guarantee the stability I wanted for myself and my family. I am proud to say that a scholarship for Arcadia’s Esports program helped motivate me to get it done too.

In July, Elbahwati was profiled by the Philadelphia Inquirer, detailing his full journey to Arcadia. Check that story out here.

Why did you choose Arcadia?

I wanted more than anything to compete again in esports, and I knew the most viable way for me to do so was as a collegiate student at Arcadia. I was accepted to Rowan University on account of completing the Helms Academy program at Temple University, but I can get my degree and still fulfill my passion for competitive gaming and playing Overwatch at Arcadia. I was scouted to help continue building the roster we started with last spring, and I am very excited to be a part of that.

What are you most looking forward to?

I am looking forward to more than anything, competing on an esports team again. I used to do it a lot on my own time from 2017-2020, on top of school and then eventually a full-time job and everything. Even when it got hard to find the time and I couldn’t keep doing it, I always wanted to find the time to come back to it and I am happy that I finally found a home at Arcadia to do so! I am also looking forward to living down the street from the school. I could see it from my apartment window!

What do you hope to accomplish at Arcadia?

I want to do more than just finish my Computer Science degree, I am really interested in what other minor degrees are possible for me and my future! Computer science isn’t the only thing I am interested in learning. I really want to eventually get into business or sports management down the line – hopefully leading to more esports opportunities in the future. I am also hoping to use my experience as a campaign director in Philadelphia to do more for good causes with the school and Civic Scholars.