Ashland University Offering Scholarship for Fortnite Battle Royale
By Nicholas Barth ·
The Ohio university will adding Fortnite Battle Royale to its collegiate esports program in the fall of 2018.
Collegiate esports continue to rise in popularity, as many universities are creating their own programs that offer talented players scholarships based on their skills in the same way someone may recieve one for their prowess in a traditional sport. While the likes of League of Legends, Heroes of the Storm and Overwatch being some of the most popular titles in the world of collegiate esports, one university in Ohio will soon be offering a scholarship for Fortnite Battle Royale.
Beginning in the fall of 2018, Ashland University will be adding the popular battle royale title from Epic Games to its scholarship offerings in its esports program. The news was announced by head coach Josh Buchananon on the school's website. Ashland University will be the first college in the United States to offer a scholarship for players who have shown incredible skill in Fortnite.
You can find the full statement by Buchananon below.
"Fortnite appeals to both the core and casual gaming fans audience. We're excited to provide this platform for gamers who want to showcase their skills in a more competitive space. Fortnite facilitates an environment that allows players to get creative, innovate and show off their mastery of their skills. The growth of Fortnite has been astounding to witness and getting players into structured practices ahead of the launch of a collegiate league will be extremely beneficial to our program."
The esports program will be offering scholarships up to $4,000, which will be based on a player's skill level and academic requirements. Prospective students of Ashland University can sign up for the esports program's tryouts on the school's website.
With the massive rise in populairty that Fortnite Battle Royale has seen, its competitive scene continues to grow with many well known esports organizations, such as FaZe Clan, having signed teams to represent them in the competitive Fortnite scene. Combining that growth with the rise of collegiate esports as a whole, it will not be shocking to see other colleges follow Ashland University's path and offer scholarships to those with a knack for the battle royale game.
(cover photo courtesy of Natasha Harry/Ashland University)