Certain Affinity is proud to announce that Ryan “Ry” Mendenhall has been selected as the recipient of the annual Certain Affinity Nels Memorial Scholarship! This scholarship is recognition of Ry’s dedication to the field of game development and academic excellence.
Since first playing on his SEGA Genesis at 6 years old, Ry has built on his passion for video games, seeing gaming through the lens of art and creation, not just personal enjoyment. While his journey to the SMU Guildhall has been fraught with personal hardships, Ry has kept on a path towards his dream work in game development.
Certain Affinity is proud to be a part of Ry’s adventure and looks forward to following his progress and success. The Nels Memorial was established to commemorate the life and work of Nels Nelson and continue his legacy of excellence, generosity, and leadership; we couldn’t think of a better recipient than Ry. Congratulations!
About Nels Nelson:
Nels Nelson joined the Certain Affinity family in 2013. During his time there as a game and systems designer, Nels always delivered a high level of passion, creativity, knowledge, and professionalism that garnered the admiration and respect of his peers. Nels improved Certain Affinity’s games, teams, and the company as a whole through his positivity, collaboration, and leadership.
Nels Charles Nelson was born on January 17, 1975 in Tokyo, Japan. Growing up, Nels was a member of the National Honor Society, played competitive chess, and enjoyed English literature and drama. His love of English literature led Nels to graduate from Cornell University with a B.A. in English. Nels developed his love for computers and programming at a young age. He taught beginner and advanced computer courses during high school and over his winter and summer breaks from college. Nels also started designing computer games at that time, a hobby that he turned into a professional career spanning nearly two decades.
Nels’ passion for his work and his heart for service inspired those who worked with him. His knowledge and ability made him a natural leader, and his individual character left a distinct and inspirational mark on Certain Affinity that will continue to guide us well into the future. For this reason, the ideal candidates for this scholarship will exemplify these four traits in their own lives and work: passion, service, leadership, and strength of character