Among eight other college undergraduates across the nation, two Eastern Michigan University students have been selected as recipients of global esports organization Gen.G’s 2022 foundation scholarship.
The EMU students chosen include Iyad Khattab, a senior from Beirut, Lebanon, majoring in creative writing and professional writing, and Je’Naiya Tims, a junior from Flint, Michigan, studying computer information systems.
The award focuses on supporting women, people of color, and low-income students in a U.S. university or college interested in gaming, esports, entrepreneurship, journalism, or content creation.
According to a news release from Gen. G, each will receive $10,000 to subsidize their tuition for this academic year and access to exclusive career and mentorship programming as members of the new scholarship class.
“Working with Gen.G to support their goals in providing the pathway into the esports space has been truly inspiring,” global fashion designer, Heron Preston, said. “Every year, I look to recognize a student who brings a high level of innovation and entrepreneurship into the digital space. Gen.G’s work to amplify voices within their industry through supporting the next generation is a mission I am proud to support.”
EMU is one of the Gen. G Foundation’s partners this year, among Gen.G’s Executive Brand Advisor Heron Preston, luxury brand Burberry, global sports brand PUMA, and the University of Kentucky.
In selecting scholarship recipients, Heron Preston's focus for the foundation was on finding creative innovators in the digital space. Back for another year in support of the Gen.G Foundation, PUMA focused on the development of student esports athletes. In their first year of partnership with Gen.G, Burberry will select a scholarship recipient demonstrating a commitment to empowering underrepresented communities within the gaming industry and beyond.
“We are so excited to introduce our third class of Gen.G Foundation scholarship recipients. Every year, we are amazed by the young talent who are the future leaders of the esports and gaming industry; we’ve already seen past classes do so much in their own communities,” Gina Chung Lee, Chief Marketing Officer at Gen.G, said.
