League of Legends is one of the most competitive games available in eSports and is also one of the most popular. The game, along with Dota 2, continues to dominate the eSports genre with the number of players in the millions.
For these reasons an Illinois school is offering scholarships for some of the best League of Legends players. The Robert Morris University in Chicago wants the best players to join their first eSports team and is willing to cut a nice deal for those interested in playing.
With the offer, the school becomes the first college to offer a gaming scholarship at the varsity level and will pay up to 50 percent of the students’ tuition.
“Significantly, Robert Morris University is among the first in the nation to offer substantial scholarships for members of the first RMU Varsity eSport League of Legends team. Qualified gamers can earn scholarships of up to 50% tuition and 50% room and board.”
This is a big step for the gaming community as this allows for the generally looked down upon activity to gain some legitimacy in the educational system. The university had this to say about the recent addition of the team to their roster.
“Robert Morris University Illinois is pleased to announce the addition of an online sport to its athletic program. Commonly referred to as eSports, the activity consists of organized video game competitions. Specifically, RMU students will compete in League of Legends, one of the largest and most popular eSport games. Although eSports have long been a part of the culture of gaming, competitions have seen a large surge in popularity in recent years. Robert Morris University recognizes the value and legitimacy of eSports and is excited to add eSports to it’s already rich athletic program.”
Having the eSports team represented in the university system will help to create a less stigmatized look at gaming as a practical way to make a living for those élite players. I think this news does wonders for pushing video games as a legitimate art form as well as nips the “lonely gamer” stereotype in the bud.
