Call of Duty Endowment Awards Veteran Jason Hall a 2011-2012 College Scholarship

This week the Endowment is featuring its 4^th 2011-2012 Activision Call of Duty Endowment scholarship recipient, Jason Hall. After serving 10 years in the military, Hall reflects in an interview that he originally joined the Army to pay for college. Continuing to pursue his dream after leaving on disability, Hall is studying Game Design at Austin Community College in Texas.

A self-professed hard core gamer, Hall is also interested in artistic expression and writing, three passions which have pointed him towards his ultimate goal of being a video game designer and/or consultant.

Already once a professional video program instructor, and current member of the International Game Developers Association, Hall possesses a lot of knowledge and experience in the gaming world, which helps him to not only maintain his high grades, but to also earn himself a coveted scholarship from the Endowment. 

It is great to see such a passionate and motivated veteran as Hall using the leadership skills he was taught in the military to be a natural leader in his own school, community, and profession.

Call of Duty Endowment Awards Veteran Lucas Braun a 2011-2012 College Scholarship

Back in February, we wrote a blog congratulating Lucas Braun on his Activision Blizzard and Call of Duty Endowment scholarship achievement. This 2011-2012 school semester, we have the privilege of doing it again. Through his strong academic performance and motivation to succeed, Lucas has proven yet again why he is not only worthy of our scholarship, but why he is worthy of it for a second time.

Lucas has been a leader even long before his current days as a father and academic. Spending 10 years in the Army, Lucas was awarded the prestigious honor of a Purple Heart. Once out of the military and trying to find civilian work, Lucas realized that he did not just want the odd and end jobs being presented to him, instead he wanted a career he could be passionate in pursing.

Lucas turned to Austin Community College, where he is studying Game Art. Lucas hopes that one day he will be able to design family friendly video games – ones that his own young children could play.

The Call of Duty Endowment is proud to congratulate Lucas for a second time this year, as his academic prowess and determination on and off the battlefield continue to impress us.

Call of Duty Endowment Awards Veteran Aaron Powell a 2011-2012 College Scholarship

Each school year, Activision Blizzard and the Call of Duty Endowment award scholarships to a few carefully chosen Austin Community College students. These scholarships are awarded to students who have not only proven to be strong leaders and motivated academics in their community, but who are also military veterans seeking a college degree and subsequent career in the video gaming industry. Austin Community College has a unique learning opportunity for interested students called the Game Development Institute which employs “seasoned game industry veterans” to instruct its courses.

Aaron Powell is one of the four elite student veterans chosen for a 2011-2012 Call of Duty Endowment scholarship. In an interview with the Endowment, Powell explains that after leaving the military, he began working in the roofing business but, as are many other Americans in our current economy, he was eventually laid off. With a wife to support, and baby on the way, Powell knew that he must do something more in order to become a competitive figure in the job market. Turning to his long time interest and passion, Powell decided to go back to school to pursue a degree and career in video game design.

Now in his third semester studying Game Design at Austin Community College, we are honored and proud to assist Powell with the some of the resources he needs in order to not only find gainful employment, but to also follow his longstanding  dreams. We wish Powell well with his upcoming school year and are excited for what the future may hold in store for him and his family!

Catching Up With Daniel Stevenson, Call of Duty Endowment Scholarship Winner from Austin Community College

Daniel Stevenson, Call of Duty Endowment scholarship recipient from Austin Community College, spent five years in the Marine Corps and was able to see many different places. But since attending college, Daniel can’t wait to stay in Austin, “I’m ready to stay home. I’ve Already done lots of traveling.” He’s ready to stay in one place and plan for a future in a career he loves.

With the travel bug out of his system, Daniel can pay more attention to his school work in Video Game Art Design. What’s his favorite class this year you might be asking? That title goes to 3D Modeling where Daniel can put his ideas into something physical. “There is something that just clicks with me,” Daniel explained about his favorite class. Another class on Daniel’s radar is Game Testing where he is given a chance to see what it takes to be a game developer, “it gives me an idea if I can really do this for a career.”

Congratulations again to Daniel and continue the great work in school! Stay tuned for more updates from more of the Call of Duty Endowment’s scholarship winners!

Catching Up With Lucas Braun, Call of Duty Endowment Scholarship Winner From Austin Community College

Keeping up with three kids who play after school sports and going to school yourself can be a difficult task, but Lucas Braun manages to pull it off. The Austin Community College scholarship recipient is used to multi-tasking after serving in the military, “how to multi-task, being punctual, and attention to detail are probably the most important things I learned that will help me in everyday life outside the military.”

That type of commitment learned from being in the service will also help Lucas out as he begins his first semester in video game classes, “I’m just excited to be done with my core classes and moving onto the classes that are in my major degree program.” One class in particular tops the list as his most anticipated class of the semester, “I am looking forward to Game Creation the most.”

The Call of Duty Endowment would like to congratulate Lucas for receiving a scholarship. Keep up the great work in school!

Stay tuned for more updates from other scholarship winners!

Catching Up With Joshua Carr, Call of Duty Endowment Scholarship Winner From Austin Community College

As many of you might remember, last September, the Call of Duty Endowment awarded a total of eight students with majors in video game design, graphic arts, and information technology a $2,500 scholarship. There were four students awarded from Madison Area Technical College and another four from Austin Community College. This week the Call of Duty Endowment will highlight a winner from Austin Community College. Stay tuned for more updates on scholarship winners!

Joshua Carr, a Game Art Design major, doesn’t have much free time on his hands. He’s spending so much time in class he rarely has time to play his coveted x-box. Even ‘Call of Duty: Black Ops’ takes a back seat to his studies, “Unfortunately I have not play played Black Ops, I have been so busy with school. I have heard and read nothing but great things about it and can’t wait to play it.”

Keeping up with the game industry can be a hard task when also learning the ins-and-outs of the technical side of game production. But, constant projects and learning new things always pay off when the portfolio class comes along. “It was great to see all of the work that I had done over the past couple of semesters,” noted Joshua.

The Call of Duty Endowment would like to congratulate Joshua on winning a scholarship. Great job and keep up the great work in school!

Educate and Advocate!

In case you missed it:  CODE had a major announcement on Friday about the creation of a new scholarship program in Texas and Wisconsin that will support veterans a career in videogame development.  CODE will be working with Austin Community College (ACC) and Madison Area Technical College (MATC) to identify potential students and provide resources for the recipients, including funding for their software expenses, transportation costs and living expenses.  In total, CODE will be providing $10,000 to support students at these two schools pursue their long-term career path.

 These scholarships are one more way that CODE is helping veterans find jobs after their service to our country.  Check out this news article about the new scholarship opportunity, and help us spread the word!

CODE and Activision Make an Educational Investment in Veterans…

Today the Call of Duty Endowment and Activision are announcing the creation of a new scholarship program to assist those veterans pursuing a career in videogame development at Austin Community College (ACC) and Madison Area Technical College (MATC).  The program will assist veterans at these schools with the costs of software, transportation, and other educational needs, while the GI bill covers tuition costs for U.S. veterans at most schools.  ACC and MATC were chosen by CODE and Activision because of their gaming and illustration programs, as well as the high number of veterans’ enrolled at each school and the participation of military veterans in the relevant course work.  

The scholarships will help to fulfill CODE’s mission of ensuring that veterans are provided a clear path to new careers after their military service is complete.  Recognizing that our nation’s veterans are some of the brightest and hardest working individuals our nation has to offer, the Call of Duty Endowment and Activision wanted to encourage and help create a path for more of these men and women to enter the field of video game production.  

Applications are now being accepted at both schools for students looking to pursue the scholarship, with the initial scholarship recipients to be announced in August.  The Call of Duty Endowment and Activision will track the development of the scholarship winners through the CODE website and other mediums as they progress throughout the program.  In total, CODE will donate $100,000 to fund the scholarship programs, which will exist for at least five years at each school.

To apply or learn more about  the scholarships at MATC, click here.

To apply or learn more about the scholarships at ACC,  click here.

Those individuals that have put their lives on the line to protect our country deserve to be rewarded with 21st century careers.  These scholarships will help them get there!