Ask any tween or teen what their favorite video game is right now and the answer will likely be the same – Fortnite. This multi-player game has grown enormously in popularity since its release last year, growing to 125 million players.

In fact, the Epic Games hit has become so popular, some parents are hiring gaming coaches for their kids with the hopes that their Fortnite skills could land them a college scholarship. Don't scoff - this is actually true. Those hours of gaming could actually pay off, so is it perhaps time to back off on nagging kids to lay off the video games?

According to the National Association of Collegiate eSports, there are currently more than 80 schools in the United States that have e-sports teams, with a coach, daily practices and league matches against other schools. The NACE offers $9 million in e-sports scholarships.

Yes, e-sports is a thing - multiplayer video games played competitively for spectators, typically by professional players. Who knew? Ohio's Ashland University is one of the first to offer a scholarship specifically for Fortnite. Based on player skill level and academic requirements, Ashland's e-sports scholarship can be as high as $4,000.

The scholarship’s first recipient, Devin Sharp of Kentucky, recently said he's “beyond grateful” for the opportunity, and plans to make the most of it.

“My parents at first, like most … were skeptical of my passion for Fortnite and gaming in general,” Sharp told ESPN. “They thought it was unhealthy, and that I could be doing something more productive. That was their opinion for a long time, but in the recent months, their opinions began to shift noticeably, and they’ve been nothing but supportive of me and my dream.”

Professional gamer and top Fortnite coach Harry Darwin turned his passion of gaming into a lucrative business. The 22-year-old teaches other gamers tactics he's learned from top-tier scrimmages and tournaments he's played in.

Scholarships for gaming have grown over the years with the rise in the popularity of such titles as League of Legends and Overwatch. Most recently, Epic Games announced that it would be investing $100 million in the game's future as a competitive title.

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