Find Your Grind, an organisation specifically dedicated to helping youths explore unconventional career options as well as alternative lifestyles, has announced a $450,000 USD annual esports scholarship fund in partnership with esports infrastructure company ReKTGlobal, who as you may already know has recently acquired esports organisation Rogue.
This will be the largest annual esports lifestyle scholarship program in the USA to date and is open not just to the higher-skilled players but also those young players with a drive for esports, regardless of their ability level. As part of this, both FYG and ReKTGlobal will bring esports to FYG's wide range of programs, including connecting esports pros and game developers to young people.
These scholarships don't necessarily have to be towards a college degree, as they could instead go to tuition, a license, or purchasing equipment needed for certain pursuits, with eligibility not based on skill or grades but instead on the individual stories of the students as well as their aspirations.
"As we've hosted our live events with high school students around the nation, one topic that always comes up with them is their passion for esports and gaming," said Nick Gross, Founder of Find Your Grind. "It is such an exciting industry with huge opportunity for growth among youth, so we wanted to create programs that show students that if they are passionate about gaming, they can pursue it as a viable lifestyle."
"With the rapid rise of esports, youth interest in the space is increasing, but so is the need for quality talent," added Amish Shah, Founder of ReKTGlobal. "We wanted to find a way to give opportunities to students to pursue esports and gaming, but also wanted to support the future of esports by providing the talent that will keep pushing the industry forward. Youth involvement is pivotal for the long-term future of esports and FYG is committed to helping kids carve a path and live their passion for esports."
You can nominate yourself or someone else for this scholarship on the Find Your Grind website, and more information on these scholarships will be coming soon. If you want to hear ReKTGlobal's Amish Shah talk a bit more about ReKTGlobal's own pursuits as well, you can also do this down below.
Do you think this is a good way to encourage young people to pursue careers in esports?