Pokimane Donates $50,000 to UCI for Esports Scholarships
Twitch streamer and YouTuber Imane “Pokimane” Anys has announced that she is donating $50,000 to the University of California Irvine (UCI) to establish the “Pokimane Scholarship” for students interested in participating in collegiate esports competitions. The scholarship is being created in partnership with UCI Esports.
Supporting Students in Pursuing Their Passions
Pokimane herself understands the challenges of balancing gaming with education. Having struggled while attending McMaster University before dropping out, she wants to give back to the gaming world that has given her so much. She hopes that by sharing her experiences, she can help others on their journey. Pokimane is particularly excited to support UCI’s esports program, which allows students to pursue their college degrees while focusing on gaming.
The Growth of UCI Esports and the Pokimane Scholarship
UCI’s esports program has been steadily growing since its inception in 2015, competing in tournaments for popular games like League of Legends and Overwatch. In 2018, they even became national champions. Starting in 2022, the Pokimane Scholarship will support a deserving undergraduate student each year with a $2,500 award. The scholarship can be earned multiple times by the same individual and will be funded by two donations of $25,000 from Pokimane.
Supporting STEM Scholars
In addition to her contribution to UCI, Pokimane is also sponsoring four STEM Advantage scholars who are pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, or math.
The UCI gaming community is thrilled by Pokimane’s generous gift. The president of The Association of Gamers at UCI, Shannon Chan, expressed her excitement and gratitude, highlighting the positive impact the scholarship will have on passionate gamers at the campus.
Further details regarding the scholarship and requirements will be announced once finalized between Pokimane and UCI. Stay tuned for more information about this exciting opportunity!
Pokimane, Twitch streamer, University of California Irvine, UCI Esports, esports scholarships, collegiate competitions