University Offers Scholarships to Fortnite Players
The tired cliche that video games will rot your brain is getting a run of its money, all thanks to a college in Ohio that will soon begin offering scholarship to the top players of the sandbox survival co-op game Fortnite Battle Royale.
According to Josh Buchanan, the head coach of Ashland University's newly formed esports team Ashland Eagles, prospective students can apply for the scholarship via its official website and those who qualify will be eligible for scholarships of up to $4,000 as they compete and practice together as a collegiate team, starting this fall semester.
“Fortnite appeals to both the core and casual gaming audience,” said Buchanan, who also happens to be one of the country’s top-ranking players and a commentator of "Starcraft 2"/memes/subcultures/starcraft. “We’re excited to provide this platform for gamers who want to showcase their skills in a more competitive space. Fortnite facilitates an environment that allows players to get creative, innovate and show off their mastery of their skills.”
Ashland Eagles will also compete in a number of other globally popular titles, including League of Legends, Overwatch, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Rocket League.
The Eagles aren’t the first college-level eSports team. As esports continue to grow in popularity, with more than 20% market growth per year and the milestone of a billion dollar industry fast approaching, more universities and high schools across the United States have been venturing into competitive gaming. Last year, the University of California courted Overwatch players with scholarships, while the University of Akron and Kent State University have both launched similar esports programs. The National Federation of State High School Associations are also planning a gaming league for this fall.
The announcement is already getting buzz from players online. However, some are dubious as to how it will all shake out.
Think you got what it takes to be an Ashland Eagle? Apply for the scholar ship on the team website.
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Commentor #2018525
mammon
I just came here to clear some mistakes on the frontpage:
vain*
There. I shall now leave.
TheHumbleFellow
Congratulations, humanity. You keep finding new ways to disappoint me.
Nedhitis
To be fair, university is a lot like battle royale games: one winner for every 100 students on a given career, all 99 of which go home with nothing to show for it.
PYRO Beatrice
My immediate action is to scoff at this, but I mean, we offer scholarships for regular sports, so I guess giving them for e-sports makes sense too?
Tentacles
I honestly wish we did for neither.
SecretAgentPickles
If it requires skill, I am okay with it. Problem is that I'm not sure there is that much room for strategic skill in fortnite.
BraveSirJimOfLawl
>University
Still not worth it even if it's free
Learn a trade
Hot Sauce
Only if you study a meme career without researching first, or take it from some diploma factory
BraveSirJimOfLawl
All the university courses that teach something useful are full of other people who also think they're smart for skipping over Underwater Basket Weaving 1012, but there's a lot more of them than they think there are. Everyone wants a job in tech or marketing, the fields are oversaturated with qualified applicants fresh out of university. Meanwhile at my tech school we have so many businesses that want to hire students while they're still in school we had to stop allowing them on campus except during industry meetings and job fairs.
Particle Mare
Graduates from four-year universities make significantly more on average than trade school or other two-year institution graduates.
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man weed
What kind of cruel god puts us to this
AliC202
Why do we exist? Just to suffer?