If ever there was proof that free-to-play battle royale games are here to stay, Becker College in Massachusetts has announced plans for a path-to-pro Apex Legends eSports scholarship program. We kid you not.
It’s the first of its kind, and one made possible by a collaboration between Becker College, Team Genji and Helix eSports. To be eligible, current juniors and seniors in high school must register for recruiting with Team Genji – applications are live as of today, March 15th – at which point the top-performing Apex players will be in with the chance of winning $5,000 towards their college education.
If nothing else, it’s an interesting scheme to promote higher education in Massachusetts, and Becker College is no stranger to the eSports scene, as general manager Timothy Loew noted the following in his official statement.
Our goal is to give top Apex Legends players a unique chance to combine their talents with an education. As home to the first varsity esports program in Massachusetts and the first bachelor in esports management degree in the U.S., Becker is excited to shape the future of competitive gaming in partnership with two of esports’ leading brands: Genji and Helix.
It may not be the $1 million payday that Ninja (AKA Tyler Blevins) reportedly bagged for promoting the launch of Apex Legends, but it’s still an enviable prize for those Apex players hoping to use their skills in the game toward a real-life college degree.
Truth be told, the Apex Legends eSports scene is still in its infancy, mostly because the title is still in the process of finding its feet. Remember, EA stealth launched Apex back in February, so it’ll take some time before a full-fledged community comes into being. But at 50 million players strong, Respawn’s title is certainly well on its way to greatness.