‘Any gamer, any game’: KontrolFreek gives eSports its first universal scholarship

Gaming accessory specialist KontrolFreek is moving from sponsorships to scholarships. The company recently introduced a first-of-its-kind eSports scholarship program with a simple mantra: “Any gamer, any game.”

KontrolFreek’s scholarship will award 10 North American college eSport players with $2,000 each for the 2016-2017 academic year. Applicants need only be a member of a recognized university eSports team. Competitive record, platform and game of choice will not affect eligibility.

The scholarship is open to League of Legends, DOTA, Hearthstone, Smite, Call of Duty, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Super Smash Bros. and others. Additionally, prospective eSport contenders such as Overwatch, Paladins and Paragon will fall under the scholarship’s umbrella provided they are backed by official teams.

The broad focus of KontrolFreek’s scholarship separates it from existing financial aid opportunities such as Heroes of the Dorm, a Heroes of the Storm tournament which will divvy out scholarship funds to winners. In fact, the specificity of tournaments like Heroes of the Dorm was a major factor in the program’s creation.

“We saw limited support between university-specific programs and competition prizes,” KontrolFreek’s Julia Gardial said over the phone. “Where we saw need was among the broader eSports audience—Starcraft, DOTA, Call of Duty. Those students don’t have options for financial aid.

“We saw the opportunity to make a much broader program available to all players. The industry is growing really rapidly, and we wanted to provide that support to any player who needs it.”

Awards will have as few strings attached as possible, and may be put toward tuition, textbooks, meal plans, housing fees or other student expenses. However, processing will be handled by Scholarship Management Services on a case-by-case basis, meaning some universities may be stricter about spending than others.

KontrolFreek is prioritizing openness with its program, but will still look into applicants’ college GPA, major, course load, references, leadership and organization skills, and extenuating circumstances when selecting winners.

“It is a scholarship program. You have to compete,” Gardial said. “You have to be good at being a student; that’s really what we’re in this for.”

Another key focus of the program is supporting players exiting the young man’s game that is eSports. KontrolFreek believes professional players and streamers have valuable skills in gaming, as well as areas like broadcast and branding, and hopes to open up post-secondary education for their sake as well.

“We’re looking at applicants who are passionate about gaming, which obviously they are if they’re playing on an official club at a university,” Gardial said. “But then also to have an opportunity once they graduate to be someone and do something outside of gaming, or within the gaming industry.”

Based on the program’s trial run, KontrolFreek may renew and expand the scholarship in the future, with the stipulation that players reapply each academic year. In particular, the company is interested in extending it beyond North America.

Interested eSports players can apply for the scholarship via KontrolFreek’s website. Applications will be accepted through May 2, or until 100 applications have been received. Applicants will be notified in July.

“We really are a player-focused company,” Gardial said. “All of our products are made to help gamers. That’s what we like to do.”