G.I.R.L. Scholarship winner announced

Sony Online Entertainment has announced the winner of this year's Gamers in Real Life (G.I.R.L.) Scholarship: Esther Wu of Brooklyn, New York. Wu is a student at Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia. The G.I.R.L. Scholarship awards $10,000 toward Wu's college tuition and educational expenses. In addition to the scholarship, Wu will undertake a 10-week paid internship at SOE's headquarters in San Diego. "It's exhilarating to be selected for this amazing opportunity," Wu says in a statement from Sony. "This competition is important because it represents a stepping stone for artists and helps build awareness about gender in the work environment." The G.I.R.L. Scholarship was launched in 2007 as a collaboration between SOE and Scholarship America. Applicants are judged on submissions of creative work and an essay discussing their views on women in the video game industry. "We urge more organizations to consider similar scholarship programs focusing on encouraging these talented artists and designers," says Laura Naviaux, senior vice president of SOE's Global Sales and Marketing division. "We need more women in this industry."