Women in Gaming: Sony Online Entertainment Announces GIRL Scholarship Winner |

Rebecca Gleason, recipient of Sony Online Entertainment's GIRL Scholarship: It's not just any ole scholarship when the check's this big.

Press release: SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) announced today that Rebecca Gleason of Indianapolis won the 2009 G.I.R.L. Scholarship. This marks the second year of the scholarship program, encouraging students toward career paths in creative and applied arts, fostering development of video games that are more enticing for women to play.

Gleason, a Game Art & Design student, was awarded a $10,000 scholarship toward tuition and other educational expenses at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and an optional paid internship of up to 10 weeks at SOE’s headquarters in San Diego, working on the newly released free-to-play game, Free Realms.

“I feel so honored to be given this opportunity,” said Gleason. “I can’t wait to make the most of it by really diving in, absorbing what I learn and working to promote the mission of the G.I.R.L. program.”

Gleason was one of more than 160 applicants vying for the scholarship. Finalists were asked to submit original concept art depicting a new game environment and new characters for Free Realms, and compose two essays discussing their art and views on women in the video game industry.

“The invaluable combination of education and experience is the exact formula Rebecca needs to become successful in this competitive video games industry,” said Torrie Dorrell, Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing, SOE. “We are thrilled to open yet another door for a female gamer and we plan to continue to expand the presence of women in gaming by carrying on the tradition of the G.I.R.L program for years to come.”

Julia Brasil, the first-ever G.I.R.L. Scholarship recipient, recently returned to SOE’s Seattle studio for another internship. Brasil will graduate from The Art Institute-San Francisco in 2010.

For more information about G.I.R.L. (Gamers in Real Life), visit girl.soe.com.