Centennial Schools is offering scholarships to students in grades 6 – 8 who out-perform in the eSports arena. There are three financial scholarships to Centennial Schools up for grabs – valued at R330 000.00, R220 000.00 and R165 000.00. Each of the winning students will also receive an ASUS laptop and 50% off the management fees levied by BRUSA, an organisation which facilitates scholarships in the USA for aspiring young eAthletes, should they wish to pursue that avenue after school.
Centennial Schools founder Shaun Fuchs says that this scholarship, being offered for the second time this year, recognises that eSports is on the rise both internationally and locally, and that the 21st Century skills gained via participating in eSports are transferable to different academic settings and are also valuable beyond the classroom.
Fuchs says that, especially in the South African context, it’s important to note that eSports are more inclusive than traditional sports, with boys and girls able to play on the same teams, and participants coming from various social groups and demographics. To this end, Centennial Schools has built the largest eSports arena of its kind in Africa, and gaming is incorporated into the school’s overall approach to education. “Teaching gaming in schools enables students to gain experience with solving problems, thinking critically, and collaborating and communicating.
Gaming can be a beneficial alternative to passive media like TV and socials, and supports computing education, STEAM subjects, and the development of business, enterprise, digital and cyber skills, and digital literacy,” says Fuchs.
The growth of eSports vs traditional sports
Globally, it’s estimated that the eSports market will be valued at $11.94 billion by 2030; an exponential growth rate of 27.6% in the next seven years. The spectator value is also astounding: the global eSports audience is projected to reach 577 million by 2024. According to SA School Sports, more than 170 American colleges have eSports programmes and are offering around $16 million per year in scholarships. College eSports tournament organiser Tespa (one of many in the space) notes that its competitions attract more than 40,000 players from 1,350 colleges, and it has awarded more than $3 million in tournament winnings.
eSports promotes character development in the same way that traditional team-based activities and sports do, says Fuchs. “Playing online games builds resilience and encourages risk-taking. Gaming ushes you to fail, try again, fail, try again. Our eSports curriculum is teaching our students how to win and lose with grace and equip them with critical thinking skills.”
How to apply for an eSports scholarship from Centennial Schools
- The scholarship application requires students to compete in, and win, a gaming competition that includes Minecraft, Aimlabs, Overcooked, and Superliminal.
- Centennial Schools’ standard entry exam must also be passed.
- There are 3 financial scholarship prizes available: R330 000.00, R220 000.00 and R165 000.00.
- Students in grades 6 – 8 are eligible to enter and win.
- BRUSA is offering 50% off their management fees for the winning students.
- Entries will open on 29 January 2024 and close on 28 February 2024
- The competition, entry information, and full terms and conditions can be found at https://centennialschools.co.za.
