WWE awarded a $10,000 scholarship to Geraldo Gutierrez, a Full Sail University student, as part of their ongoing partnership.

The partnership provides students at the University with the opportunity to gain real-world experience producing the WWE NXT series which showcases WWE’s brightest young talent as they battle to become WWE superstars and divas.

Garry Jones, president of Full Sail University, and Paul Levesque, WWE EVP, Talent and Live Events, presented the check to Gutierrez, who is one of 65 Full Sail students involved in WWE NXT tapings at the state-of-the-art Full Sail Live studio in Winter Park, Fla., near Orlando.

The scholarship will be applied toward Gutierrez’s studies in the Recording Arts, Bachelor of Science Degree Program at Full Sail. Levesque awarded the scholarship on behalf of WWE in a ceremony to kick-off the latest tapings of the WWE NXT series at Full Sail Live.

WWE in conjunction with Full Sail staff selected Gutierrez for exhibiting exceptional professionalism, creative talent and maintaining good academic standing, as well as shadowing professional WWE staff and crew during the production of NXT at the University.

“This is a great moment for our students and the University,” Jones said. “This scholarship is a testament to WWE’s commitment to and its belief in the importance of education in the entertainment and media industry.”

“It is a tremendous honor to have been selected for this scholarship,” Gutierrez said. “I am so grateful for this incredible opportunity.”

Levesque added: “Education is a key pillar of WWE’s corporate social responsibility platform. We are proud to award the first of many scholarships to Full Sail students and thrilled to be able to continue enhancing the University’s classroom learning with this unique hands-on experience.”

In May 2012, WWE and Full Sail University announced a collaborative partnership that moved the live tapings of the WWE NXT series to the University’s state-of-the-art performance venue. Full Sail University students, staff, faculty and the general public have been invited to attend the live tapings on the campus, with proceeds benefiting the scholarship fund.

In addition to the scholarship announcement, the event featured a salute to all the Full Sail students who have participated in the production of WWE NXT live events this year.

Following the ceremony before a full audience, the superstars and divas of WWE NXT along with some current WWE superstars and divas like Layla, Tyson Kidd, Alicia Fox, Drew McIntyre, the Usos, Brodus Clay with Naomi and Cameron, Heath Slater, Vickie Guerrero, Antonio Cesaro, Yoshi Tatsu, Jinder Mahal, Damien Sandow, Justin Gabriel, Johnny Curtis, Michael McGillicutty, World champ Sheamus and an injured John Cena appeared during the tapings. Justin Gabriel acknowledged WWE superfan Tye Dye Guy who was mid-center (camera view) for the shows.

Levesque, better known as WWE superstar Triple H, is helping WWE focus assisting students, i.e. Be a STAR anti-bullying, WrestleMania Reading Challenge and Full Sail.

The Full Sail students are being mentored by WWE staff, receiving experience and knowledge, first-hand, hands-on.

Full Sail Live offers a spectacular venue with extraordinary capabilities to prepare WWE NXT talent for WWE programming. WWE gives Full Sail students opportunities which may lead to a job behind the scenes with the company or elsewhere.