Next Generation of Gaming Guru's granted new Scholarship Fund

Paul Sinclair • Feb 4, 2008 • Comments ()

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) has announced the creation of the Dr. Randy Pausch Scholarship Fund, established to support students in pursuit of careers in game design, development and production. The AIAS will award four $2,500 scholarships to students attending accredited universities.

This new scholarship fund, which will cultivate the gaming industry's bright young minds, is a collaborative effort between the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences and Bing Gordon, chief creative officer, Electronic Arts. The AIAS will donate $1 for every Academy member's vote for the 2008 Interactive Achievement Awards.

The AIAS has more than 12,000 members who are dedicated to serving the entertainment software industry. The 11th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, hosted by actor, comedian and avid video game player, Jay Mohr, will take place during the 2008 D.I.C.E. Summit on Thursday, February 7, 2008 at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas.

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The scholarship fund honors Dr. Randy Pausch, professor of computer science, human-computer interaction and design at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). Dr. Pausch, a co-founder of CMU's Entertainment Technology Center (ETC), has had great influence within the industry through his teachings, sabbaticals at Walt Disney Imagineering and Electronic Arts and consultation with Google on user interface design.

"It makes sense that the Academy's first scholarship fund honor Dr. Randy Pausch, who has been an inspiration to those who want to be involved in making great games," said Joseph Olin, president, AIAS. "We hope these scholarships may help the next Will Wright or Mike Morhaime get their start. This new effort is a wonderful opportunity for the video game industry to support its future by providing a foundation in academics."

A scholarship committee comprised of AIAS board members Rich Hilleman, Electronic Arts; Don Daglow, Stormfront Studios and Mike Capps, Epic Games, along with the University of Southern California's Chris Swain and Carnegie Mellon's (former AIAS board member) Jesse Schell to select scholarship recipients. The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences will begin accepting applications after the 2008 D.I.C.E. Summit. Additional information on the Dr. Randy Pausch Scholarship Fund and the application process will be available at www.interactive.org.

SOURCE: Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences