TwitchTV & Alienware Unite to Form Gaming Scholarship

The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) is known for its innovative releases, groundbreaking new services, and all sorts of other exclusive information on the latest in the world of electronic entertainment, but the 2012 TwitchTV and Alienware Scholarship  is something gamers and e-Sports enthusiasts should really be excited about.

In a press release written by TwitchTV's Jared Rea, CEO Emmett Shear cited his desire to give back to the competitive gaming community that has burgeoned over the last year in the form of viewership, internet traffic, the growth of professional tournaments, and sponsorship opportunities. Shear decided that this was one of the best ways to give back to the community that he has fostered through the help of TwitchTV, as if TwitchTV's sponsorship of Team Dignitas and other e-Sports organizations and tournaments wasn't enough.

In the same article, Alienware's General Manager, Frank Azor continued, "The goal is to encourage the top players to pursue higher education while continuing to compete at the highest levels of gaming." He goes on to draw parallels between the passion for improvement in competitive gaming and how Alienware, TwitchTV, and SteelSeries aim to translate that competitive drive into higher education.

SteelSeries CMO, Kim Rom, posits the scholarship as a way to foster those competitive gamers' passions, talent, and tenacity in an academic atmosphere so that those driven gamers can turn around with an education and grow the scene they love as a career.

The application process opens up on June 5th, 2012 and runs until July 15th, 2012; winners will be announced on August 15th, 2012. Fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) are up for grabs, to be divided among five (5) outstanding gaming and academic aficionados. Applications will be evaluated by 'industry experts' on the basis of academic and gaming achievements including grade point average (GPA), gaming prowess (in-game rankings, tournament placements, winnings), an essay written by the applicant on what games mean to the applicant, and a video submission explaining why the applicant should be selected.

This is a big step forward in the e-Sports and gaming industries and reperesents another step toward recognition and involvement, mirroring the eleemosynary efforts of mainstream efforts, demonstrating what entertainment and caring, forward-thinking individuals can bring to bear-a testament to the power of community, games, and the people who love them.

Source: http://blog.twitch.tv/2012/06/04/twitchtv-partners-with-alienware-and-steelseries-to-launch-scholarship-for-competitive-gamers/

Additional Information and Submission Information: http://www.twitch.tv/p/scholarship.