NEW YORK – As part of its commitment to redefining the stigma associated with sex work and to encourage men to think about long-term career paths outside the sex industry, escort site Rentboy.com will award $1,500 in cash to a student who submits the best essay or video entitled “Why Going to School is a Part of Achieving My Dream.”

The company calls the program Cash4Class.

“Everyone deserves a chance at the American dream,” said Rentboy Chief Operating Officer Hawk Kinkaid. “Today’s escorts and porn stars may become tomorrow’s programmers, lawyers and innovators who will take the adult industry into the next generation of apps, cams and provider-client verification software.

“But this isn’t about the adult industry educating its own cohort group,” he added. “The fact of the matter is that large numbers of students are already turning to sex work to help pay for tuition, room and board, and long-term student loan bills.”

According to the Student Sex Project, one in five students have considered doing sex work to pay for college. Surprisingly, the study found that a greater number of male students reported they had helped pay for university by working in the sex industry in some capacity.

“Their numbers don’t even account for all the students outside of university programs, engaged in secondary education and licensed certification programs like real estate, nursing or personal training,” Kinkaid said.

The Cash4Class scholarship isn’t the first time Rentboy has conducted a back-to-chool campaign. In past years, the website has offered discounts on escort ads for students enrolled in a university, adult education or license certification program.

Kinkaid said the site is eager to hear stories from real rentboys paying their way through school. Participants are encouraged to address one or more questions: What are the fun parts sex work? What unique challenges do sex workers face? What have they learned about themselves and/or their clients through their work? Do friends know about their work? What surprising things have happened along the path to receiving an education in both the classroom and in the unpredictable- but-lucrative red-light zone?

Submissions must be received by Sept. 15. Colby Keller, the internationally known blogger, artist and CockyBoys porn star, will determine the winner.

“Knowledge really is power,” Keller said. “There are many people out there in the world who want to keep that power from [sex workers]. There’s no better tool we have to fight unfair prejudices than with a well worked-out noggin.”

The $1,500 prize is funded by Rentboy  with support from CockyBoys.com.  For more information, visit Rentboy.com/Scholarship.