

At EVO, we love competitive gaming, but we also know there’s more to it than simply seeing who is the best. Having run these tournaments for nearly 20 years, I’ve seen first-hand that deep and positive impact the community around these games can have on young people’s lives. I’ve watched lifelong bonds of friendship form out of competition, and seen my former competitors grow to run gaming related businesses of their own, find other industry jobs, and even create new games.

It’s clear to me that it’s the players that make fighting games so special. The top players are our heroes during competitions, but hundreds of thousands of competitors from around the world also use the game as an outlet to measure themselves, a reason to get up and out of the house, and meet amazing new friends in person, as well as online. As prize pools grow and the top players get their well-deserved time in the spotlight, we also want to remember that it’s the open, egalitarian nature of the fighting game scene, rooted in the personal connections inspired by arcades, that keeps it strong.

To continue this great tradition, it’s critical to support the next generation of players and help show that competitive gaming is not just a way to test yourself, earn great prizes, and connect with fellow players, it can also be a gateway to a fulfilling industry profession. To highlight this and pay-it-forward to the next generation of gamers, we are announcing an annual $10,000 scholarship for a student enrolled at an accredited university studying towards a degree in game design, game development, or computer science.

The scholarship will be initially financed by the Evo 2012 pay-for-view hd stream. All pay-for-view profits will go into the Evo Scholarship fund. I believe in this so strongly that I’m going to personally guarantee the $10,000 scholarship. If the HD stream is successful, it will cover the costs. If not, I will pay the scholarship out of my pocket.

If you’re watching Evo from home and can afford it, upgrade to HD, enjoy the action, and help support the next generation of excellence! Either way, we’ve got some special treats for the Evo viewers at home, which you can find out about here.

For students, both current and future, we will have application details available later in July.

Sincerely,

-Tom Cannon (aka inkblot)

SRK Founder & President, Evo Co-Founder