The Guildhall at SMU Students Awarded $30,000 in Scholarships

DALLAS (SMU) - The Guildhall at SMU recently hosted a luncheon to honor recipients of $30,000 in scholarship funding. Ten students were awarded scholarships on behalf of the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS), D3Publisher and the Entertainment Software Association Foundation.   

“We appreciate and commend these industry visionaries for acknowledging the importance of video game development education,” said Dr. Peter Raad, executive director and founder of The Guildhall at SMU.  “Their generosity is a direct investment in cultivating a new generation of leaders who will push the creative boundaries and shape the future of digital entertainment.”

Awarded biannually, the $10,000 AIAS Academy Scholar is given to an incoming student who best exemplifies the organization’s spirit and commitment to advancing the global interactive community.

The ESA Foundation Computer and Videogame Scholarship Program recognizes the academic excellence of women and minorities pursuing a Master’s degree or graduate certificate at SMU with an annual scholarship of $10,000. 

D3Pulisher honored students who have excelled academically by granting the $10,000 Shane Hensley Scholarship for Game Development Excellence this year.

“The industry’s demand for creative and forward-thinking game developers is far greater than the supply,” explained Raad.  “The Guildhall is committed to offering the most relevant education and making it available to all promising candidates.  We look forward to building new industry partnerships with those who share this common goal.”

2009 Scholarship Recipients and Their Undergraduate Schools

Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences Scholar

• Christopher McCrimmons, Springfield, MA, University of Massachusetts

 D3P Shane Hensley Scholarship for Game Development Excellence

• Daniel Baker, Durham, NC, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
• Stewart Brown Waldorf, MD, University of Maryland
• Joseph Bush, Sheboygan, WI, University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point
• Josh Moretto, Palmyra, NJ, Cornell University
• George Schmitt, Clarksburg, MD, University of Maryland
• Morgan Wilson, Mercedes, TX, New York University

ESA Foundation Computer and Videogame Scholarship Program

• Shaylyn Hamm, Easton, PA, University of Pennsylvania
• Shovaen Patel, Tampa, FL, Georgia Institute of Technology
• Eva Tran, Round Rock, TX, University of Texas at Austin
• Michael Wong, Garland, TX, University of Texas at Dallas

About The Guildhall at SMU

The Guildhall at Southern Methodist University is the premier graduate video game education program in the U.S. Many of the school’s founders are industry icons, and classes are taught by industry veterans. In six years, the program has graduated over 300 students, and alumni have worked at more than 80 video game studios around the world, with several graduates now serving in leadership positions.

SMU offers both a master’s degree and a graduate Professional Certificate of Interactive Technology in Digital Game Development, with specializations in art creation, level design, and software development. For more information, please visit www. guildhall.smu.edu.