Middle School Student Wins $50,000 Scholarship For Education Game Tournament

Education game company Tabula Digita has announced the winner of its first DimensionU Games National Scholarship Tournament, in which students from grades three through eight competed in educational video games for up to $50,000 in scholarships. The tournament used Tabula Digita's own DimensionU Learning System, a software suite of 3D online games that help students refine their math and literacy skills. The DimensionU games use a basic third or first person shooter framework, and task players with solving puzzles relating to a variety of academic fields. Zachariah Chou of Florida's Silver Trails Middle School won first place in the tournament, and received a $50,000 scholarship, $1,000 cash, a trip to Las Vegas, and tickets to a concert featuring Lady Gaga, the Black Eyed Peas, and Beyonce. Tyler Kapadia Of Texas' Walnut Glen Elementary School took home first place in the junior division, and earned a $10,000 scholarship, a vacation to Disneyland, and tickets to see Lady Gaga in concert. Tabula Digita also announced a second tournament, the U Games Summer Challenge, which will run until August 7, 2011. This contest will have five two-week rounds, in which students from grades three through eight will compete in DimensionU games for prizes including iPod nanos and Slip 'n' Slides.