WTF??

[RayRay]

For Immediate Release

TwitchTV Partners with Alienware and SteelSeries to Launch Scholarship for Competitive Gamers

Launching at E3, the 2012 TwitchTV and Alienware Scholarship will award $50,000 in scholarships to five students based on GPA, Gaming Prowess and Passion for Playing

San Francisco, CA – June 4, 2012 – TwitchTV, the world’s leading video game broadcasting network, today announced at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) plans to join forces with Alienware, Dell’s high powered PC gaming brand, and SteelSeries, the leading manufacturer of premium-quality peripherals, to offer up the 2012 TwitchTV and Alienware Scholarship for outstanding student gamers. Fifty thousand dollars in scholarships will be divided among five students based on criteria spanning both academic and gaming achievements.

“We’ve seen the competitive gaming landscape explode over the last year, as marked by our site’s traffic, as well as the sharp increase in the number of pro tournaments, sponsor interest and number of players who are able to support themselves by streaming their games,” said Emmett Shear, CEO of TwitchTV. “The scholarship concept was inspired by our desire to give something back to the community that has helped us grow to more than 17 million unique visitors a month, less than one year from our launch in June 2011.”

The 2012 TwitchTV and Alienware Scholarship committee will be composed of industry experts who will review applications to determine the winning submissions. Beyond grades and gaming achievements, elements such as passion and dedication will be determining factors. Applicants will need to provide their current grade point average, demonstrate their gaming prowess (including in-game ranking, tournament history and prizes awarded), draft an essay on what games mean to them, and include a video of why they deserve the funding.

“The goal is to encourage the top players to pursue higher education while continuing to compete at the highest levels of gaming,” agrees Frank Azor, Alienware General Manager. “We’ve got a pretty competitive community out there and we are looking forward to providing an opportunity to foster that same passion for education.”

“Participating in a scholarship specifically designed for students who are passionate about gaming while being determined to help grow and evolve this industry is something we are incredibly proud to be a part of,” adds SteelSeries CMO, Kim Rom. “We’re excited to help spread the news of this scholarship and see the turnout of submissions.”

TwitchTV is accepting scholarship applications between June 5, 2012 and July 15, 2012. The winners will be announced on August 15, 2012. For the full list of application requirements and other rules and regulations, visit www.twitch.tv/p/scholarship.

TwitchTV is an exhibitor at E3 (South Hall Booth #347) and is live broadcasting new and upcoming content from some of the biggest video game publishers in the industry.

[JohnnyHustler]

Pursuing higher education and continuing to compete at the highest levels of gaming can NOT go hand in hand. Both require vast amounts of time, and to do both will burn anyone out. It's impossible.

[houdinisangel]

Both require vast amounts of time, and to do both will burn anyone out. It's impossible.

Even on Earth-2?

[miketheknife]

I think creating incentives for kids to spend more time gaming is a fantastic idea. It's so difficult to get them to put in the time these days.