Atlanta-based KontrolFreek, the well-known company that makes performance thumbstick extenders and sweat-resistant grips for both PlayStation and Xbox recently awarded $3,000 college eSports scholarships to three eSports-playing students nationally. Ashish Mistry, KontrolFreek’s CEO said that the opportunity is “…something that parents should be proud of.”
Ashish also says that he plans to renew the scholarship opportunity next year. The 2017 program is set to start sometime in March. KontrolFreek is not, however, the only company/institution to offer eSports scholarships.
This fall, the University of California at Irvine plans to offer $5,600 scholarships for 10 top student gamers. This would cover about half of in-state tuition for students. It also claims to be the first public university to offer scholarships for eSports team members who will represent the school in eSports competitions with other colleges.
Mark Deppe, the acting director of UCI’s eSports program had the following to say about the program:
“It is a chance to be the best at something that is going to be bigger than traditional sports. All the same perks that come from having the best football team or the best basketball team, we are going to see that with eSports.”
Instead of relying on taxes, the program aims to get all its funding from corporate sponsors and charges to students who use the new campus gaming room. Due to this new program, Deppe predicts a boost for campus life and recruitment in general.
It’s great to hear that educational institutions are jumping on the bandwagon and are supporting eSports athletes through eSports scholarships. Programs like these encourage students to not only chase their dreams, but Universities and Colleges who employ programs like these are bound to see an increase in enrollment from students looking for an institution to support their dream.
