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Yes, your kid can get a college scholarship for video games

By Matt Kempner
Aug 11, 2016

The kids just got a new argument for playing video games. An Atlanta-based company has awarded college scholarships for people who play video games competitively.

KontrolFreek, which makes popular "performance thumbstick" extenders and sweat-resistant grips for gamers, dished out $3,000 college scholarships to three students nationally. CEO Ashish Mistry said the company will award more in the future.

“It’s something that parents should be proud of,” he said.

Others are ponying up money for eSports players, too, including the University of California at Irvine. Starting this fall the public research university plans to offer $5,600 scholarships (covering about half of in-state tuition) to 10 gamers who will represent it in tournaments.

“It is a chance to be the best at something that is going to be bigger than traditional sports,” said Mark Deppe, the acting director of UCI’s eSports program.

ExploreCheck out more — including what perks some gamers want from Georgia Tech — in my latest Unofficial Business column on MyAJC.com.

About the Author

Matt Kempner is an award-winning journalist who seeks out intriguing twists about people and subjects beyond what the AJC might typically cover. A former columnist and editor, his past assignments have included business investigations, energy, the economy, entrepreneurs, big business, consumer spending, politics, government and the environment.

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