In the last week, two new rounds of scholarships for students interested in participating in the game industry have been announced, from two top-tier organizations in the games industry, the International Game Developers Association and the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS).
International Game Developers Association
The IGDA Foundation works with several key industry events a year, to help several students gain entry to networking and opportunity-heavy conferences and expos. Most recently, the IGDA Foundation sent a group of scholars to GDC 2016. The scholars stories are collectively told here.
This time, the IGDA has announced it’s sending accepted student applicants to GDC Europe and Gamescom 2016. Applications are open for undergrad students, graduate students and recent graduates (up to 6 months before the conference), until May 31, 2016. Why should this be considered a highly prized opportunity? Accepted student applicants will receive an all-access pass, industry mentorship and Q&A opportunities with leading industry figures.
The IGDAÂ is the largest nonprofit membership organization in the world serving all individuals who create games.
For more details and to go all in to apply, stop by the IGDA Scholarships page.
The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences
The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, which also has a philanthropic arm, the AIAS Foundation, has opened submissions for two of its annual scholarship programs in support of students investing in their future in the interactive entertainment industry. Included in the scholarship programs are opportunities to participate in a yearlong mentorship program, which includes engagement at the D.I.C.E. Summit, GDC and E3:
The two scholarship programs, as described in the official press release:
·        The Randy Pausch Scholarship, which awards two $2,500 scholarships, was established in 2008 to honor the memory of Computer Science Professor and Co-Founder of the Entertainment Technology Center at Carnegie Mellon University, Dr. Randy Pausch. The Pausch Scholarships support students pursuing careers in the development of interactive entertainment, including art, animation, programming, engineering, game design, sound design, and music composition.
·        The Mark Beaumont Scholarship, which awards two $2,500 scholarships, was established in 2010 to honor the memory of the previous COO of Capcom North America and Europe, Mark Beaumont. The Beaumont Scholarships support students pursuing careers specializing in the business of interactive entertainment, including management, law, marketing, public relations, and business development.
To see information from past recipients of these scholarships and to peruse some of the success stories, visit this page. For those folks looking ahead to their opportunity, applicants must have a GPA of at least 3.3 and be a full-time student and attend an accredited college or university in the United States during the 2016-2017 academic school year.
From the AIAS website, “The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences was founded in 1996 as a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the advancement and recognition of the interactive arts. The organization has more than 20,000 members.”
For more information about the scholarships, qualifications and application forms, please visit http://www.interactive.org/
Students: ready, set, go, apply yourself and apply for these opportunities!
