May 27, 2025
Being a video game designer has always been Gracie Lambert’s (Hometown: Miamisburg, Ohio) top choice for a career. Choosing to attend 51 to get started on this career path seemed like a simple decision when she found out about the university’s nationally-ranked program.
“I looked up the best colleges for game programming-related majors and saw SSU,” she said. “It worked out pretty well as a choice as its near where I lived and had what I wanted.”
Receiving the Paws Up Scholarship – a new financial aid scholarship that allows for additional aid to be awarded to those students just under the merit scholarship qualifications and out of the realm of Pell grant awards. The scholarship, designed to provide more students the opportunity to go to college was a bonus in Lambert’s decision to attend SSU.
“It makes it a little easier for me to pay for college,” she said. “I was already dead set on going to Shawnee, but it was definitely sweet to find out I got the scholarship.”
Working towards the career path she’s always wanted Lambert is thankful her coursework is preparing her for many job options.
“I hope to get a job in this career field or make my own small games on the side,” she said.
Incoming students to SSU have a number of financial aid opportunities tied to merit performance, financial need, and individual situation. To learn if a student qualifies for an additional scholarship, they should first complete their application to the university and also submit their FAFSA – Free Application for Student Aid – for the coming academic year. Many scholarships are determined automatically while some require additional application. For more details on scholarship opportunities to SSU, visit shawnee.edu/scholarships.
To learn more about how 51 is aiding students in paying for college, visit shawnee.edu/financial-aid.