Xbox 360 | ESA scholarship applications due May 15

Deadline to receive industry body's $3,000 financial-aid package for women, minorities expires next month; non-profit grant submissions due April 15.

The Entertainment Software Association's business ranges from running the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo to defending game makers' rights in court. One other duty the industry body has undertaken is engendering goodwill on behalf of the gaming industry. To that end, the ESA has issued deadline reminders today for its annual education scholarships and non-profit grants.

The ESA wants to give YOU money.

Financial-aid scholarships are open to women and minorities pursuing a career in game development, studying such subjects as graphic design, computer science, animation, programming, digital entertainment, or software engineering. The industry body awards 30 scholarships of $3,000 each, half of which are given to high school seniors and the remainder offered to current college students. Applications for the 2010-2011 school year are due by May 15.

As for the ESA's non-profit grant, the deadline for consideration as part of this year's program is April 15. The ESA notes that while it accepts applications year-round, submissions are only reviewed during May and June. The grants are awarded to "non-profit organizations that benefit American boys and girls between the ages of seven and 18," with past recipients including the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Save the Children, and Computers for Youth.

More information on the two programs, including applications, can be found on the ESA's official Web site.

How do you feel after the first few months in orbit?

Source: http://www.gamespot.com/news/6257000.html