Illinois College Offers Scholarships to Video Game Players

If spending hours on XBox translated into a college education, would parents be more acceptable of the sport??  Why of course!  Well, parents are in relief because one school in Illinois recognizes gaming as an “eSport” and even offer college scholarships for playing.

This fall, Robert Morris University Illinois will offer student scholarships totaling approximately $19,000; gamers only though.  Players of the League of Legends game will be considered for the scholarship. A representative of Robert Morris says that the school “recognizes the growing legitimacy of what are known as “eSports.” The school says it also wants to give credit to those with a competitive spirit who don’t necessarily want to play traditional sports such as basketball or football.“

According to the Associated Press…

Starting this fall, the scholarships will cover up to 50 percent of tuition and 50 percent of room and board. That’s worth up to $19,000 per student. Robert Morris says it is among the first in the nation to offer such substantial scholarships of this type.

League of Legends players control warriors battling it out in a science fiction-like setting.

Dispelling any doubt about its popularity, a League of Legends championship sold out the Staples Center in Los Angeles last October.

The game is very challenging and demands a well-thought strategy, Andrew Dixon, a Robert Morris senior, told WLS-TV.

“You have the physical – you have like football and basketball and all that – this is a very mentally taxing game, especially when you’re being pitted against five other individuals,” he said.

Dixon, who is from the Chicago suburb of Lockport, is also on the university’s volleyball team and sees similarities between the virtual and the real sporting worlds.

“Even when you lose, you’re able to go back and evaluate your game play,” Dixon said. “A lot of times you’re able to record matches and review them, kind of like watching game film.”

For more information, visit www.robertmorris.edu.