A University of Kentucky freshman is guaranteed a $10,000 scholarship in this new field
A University of Kentucky student will be among the first to receive a $10,000 scholarship intended to increase diversity in the gaming industry, UK announced Thursday.
Gen. G, an international, multibillion-dollar esports organization that is partnered with UK, has pledged $100,000 annually for the next 10 years to a scholarship fund open to diverse college students majoring in gaming, esports, entrepreneurship, journalism or content creation. There will be 10 inaugural recipients in the first year of the program.
A UK freshman is guaranteed a scholarship in the first year of the program. Applications will open Sept. 15, and the recipients will be announced in December. While the university doesn’t have a major in gaming, other fields of study incorporate gaming into courses. For example, there are courses on video game studies and history within the media arts and studies major.
Chris Park, the CEO of Gen. G, said that educating and helping young gamers get ahead in life is the company’s central mission. Gen. G has college partners in UK and Eastern Michigan University.
“When you look across the gaming industry, and you see that there’s nearly 3 billion people in the world who play video games of some kind, it’s really one of the most diverse, truly global communities in the world,” Park said. “But I think the best paths to the greatest opportunities professionally and academically have just not been fully developed for everyone from all aspects of the community.”
Gaming, the competitions and accompanying content creation are some of the most influential forms of media and entertainment now, Park said. He said it’s important for the community to empower “the best and brightest talents, including from underrepresented parts of the community or society.”
Heath Price, UK’s associate chief information officer and a leader of the university’s esports program, said Gen. G’s scholarship idea has been discussed since the partnership began last year.
“First and foremost for us, it’s about providing opportunities and pathways,” Price said. “This scholarship is another way for us to do that.”
Even if a student who applies doesn’t get the scholarship, the hope is that students can learn more about what UK’s esports program has to offer, Price said. Over the next year, the esports program hopes to create more opportunities to drum up interest among students. The program has hosted online events, including
subject-matter experts from the gaming community who speak with interested students, Price said.
The university is also encouraging students to create content for UK’s Twitch channel — an online streaming platform that is commonly popular among gamers. The Cornerstone — a new university building at the corner of South Limestone and Winslow Street slated to be finished this fall — will include an esports lounge and theater, expanded parking and a food hall. Price said the esports space is expected to be done in October.
This story was originally published August 27, 2020 at 9:03 AM.