Pokimane announced her recent partnership with UCI Esports for a scholarship that will be awarded to one lucky gamer-student every year.
The particular scholarship is designed to last “forever”, according to the Twitch star. She confirmed the news on her recent February 13 stream.
Imane “Pokimane” Anys has teamed up with University of California Irvine’s esports initiative to create a special ‘Poki’ scholarship.
It will be awarded to one lucky student in UCI’s esports program, which the streamer is excited about. It is notably difficult for college students to balance their work-gaming life especially in the competitive esports scene.
“They are pursuing esports while getting a degree in school… Which, I know from experience, is so freaking hard.”
Aside from that, Pokimane will also be sponsoring 4 STEM Advantage scholars for majors in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.
She explains what led her to the decision:
“I’ve been working for so long because I wanted to figure out a way to give back to both esports — the community, which I’ve gotten a whole life out of — and, if you guys didn’t know, I also studied engineering while I was in university… Education is something that I genuinely care about so much.”
Anys’ mother is an elementary school teacher, which may give her all the more reason to give back to the community in such a way.
A scholarship from such a renowned gamer-internet personality just proves that the professional esports scene is growing, even in universities.
UCI officially issued a statement regarding Pokimane’s generous gesture. She donated $50,000 to help establish the program’s first endowment for student scholarships.
The League of Legends and Fortnite streamer writes in a tweet:
“i’m sponsoring four @StemAdvantage scholars & I’ve created the “Pokimane Scholarship” with @UCIEsports, which will be continuously awarded every year!”
The chosen student is reported to receive $2,500 financial aid per year, beginning in 2022. The university further clarified that: “there is no limit to how many times a student can earn the scholarship during his or her time at UCI.”
The latest initiative follows the construction of UCI’s first esports arena, but the program has been around since 2015. It is dubbed as first of its kind, and has even inspired similar projects in other colleges across the USA.
Pokimane expressed her glee over the scholarship program:
“I am so pleased to be able to give back to the gaming world, which has given me so much.”
“I love being able to share my experience of how I got to where I am today in hopes that it will help others who are on their way. I’m also especially happy to be supporting UCI’s esports program because their students are focusing on gaming in addition to pursuing their college degrees – which, I can say from experience, isn’t easy!”
