Paintball Journal

I just found out not too long ago just how many colleges are now supporting paintball teams, and I’m guessing that this number is going to increase in the near future. Here’s one that I didn’t see coming, though. How about a $5,000 scholarship to help you along the way, offered by Brass Eagle? Sounds real good to me!

You can continue reading to read the official article, or you can find it here at the National Collegiate Paintball Association website.

With generous support from Brass Eagle, the NCPA is pleased to offer a combined total of $5,000 in scholarships towards college education. Students who are enroll in an accredited, two- or four-year program during 2006-2007 or 2007-2008 school year are eligible for scholarships to be awarded in the spring of 2006.

The primary consideration in awarding the scholarship will be a candidate’s achievements promoting a positive public image for the sport of paintball in their community. A candidate must have applied to or be attending a college, accredited trade school or university and have demonstrated scholastic ability by submitting SAT or ACT scores and transcripts of high school and any college courses taken. A candidate must demonstrate character, integrity and leadership through participation in extra curricular, civic or community activities.

Promoting a positive public image for the sport of paintball would include, but is certainly not limitted to, promoting charity paintball events, conducting paintball safety or awareness campaigns, and organizing service projects performed by and attributed to members of the paintball community.

As part of the application, candidates must write an essay, maximum 2,000 words in length, answering the following questions:

- How have your activities promoted a positive image for the sport of paintball?
- How will you continue to promote paintball’s positive image while completing your college education?

Candidates must complete and submit an application by April 1, 2007. If a recipient does not enter school within one year of receiving an award, or leaves school at any time after starting, any scholarship award may be automatically canceled.

Depending on the quality of the pool of applicants, available scholarship dollars may be split between one and five selected candidates. Scholarships awarded to candidates enrolled during the 2006-2007 school year may be applied towards the Fall 2006 and Spring 2007 semesters or 2007-2008 semesters.

Payments of scholarship awards are made only to the school upon receipt of each semester’s billings.

Candidates must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) with the College Scholastic Service. After the FAFSA has been processed the candidate will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) in six weeks from the College Scholarship Service. A copy of both the FAFSA must be included with the application and the SAR must be forwarded to the NCPA upon receipt if not also included with the application.

This is exactly what the sport needs right now, and I’m glad to see it come from a company like Brass Eagle. It’s a very generous move on their part, and I can only hope that others follow their example. Brass Eagle, I salute your efforts!