Contact: Lauren Gaydos, (703) 351-2015
Arlington, Va., (May 12, 2022)—The Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) announced it has awarded over $120,000 in scholarships to 40 students from rural communities served by members of NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association. The total amount awarded is one of the largest in the foundation’s 28-year history.
The FRS Scholarship Program awards one-time scholarships to students from across rural America for their first year of college, university or vocational-technical school. In addition, FRS awards one scholarship to a student entering law school. Each student is sponsored by an NTCA member company, and NTCA members help spread the word in their communities about the available scholarships.
In addition to 23 $2,500 FRS Scholarships, other awards included:
- One $7,000 Everett Kneece Scholarship to the highest achieving applicant.
- Six $5,000 JSI Scholarships to students with an interest in science, math or engineering (STEM).
- One $5,000 Herbert and Isabel Bitz Memorial Scholarship to an individual who exhibits a strong dedication to rural America.
- Two $5,000 Sarah Tyree Good Neighbor Scholarships to students who demonstrate what it means to be a “good neighbor” through humanitarianism, inclusion, and kindness to others.
- One $2,500 Diana Jo Dryer Memorial Scholarship – Sponsored by INDATEL Services to a female student who intends to major in and study business.
- Three Roger Cox Scholarships, one $1,000 scholarship to a student who resides in the Atlantic Telephone Membership Company service territory in North Carolina, and two other $1,000 scholarships for individuals living in rural areas of North Carolina and South Carolina.
- Two $1,500 TMS Scholarships, awarded annually to a customer of Ardmore Telephone and/or West Kentucky and Tennessee Telecommunications Cooperative.
- One $5,000 James L. Bass Scholarship to an individual entering his or her first year of law school.
“Providing opportunities for young people in rural communities is a core mission for FRS. We are proud to partner with NTCA member companies and generous individuals in the industry to make these scholarships possible each year. We know these scholarship recipients are doing great things and we look forward to learning about their successes,” said FRS Executive Director Pam Becker.
A full list of scholarship awardees and the NTCA member companies who are partnering with FRS to make the funding possible is available online.
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The Foundation for Rural Service (FRS), the philanthropic arm of NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association and its members, seeks to sustain and enhance the quality of life in rural America by advancing an understanding of rural issues. Through scholarships, grants, and a variety of educational programs, FRS focuses on educating rural youth, encouraging community development and introducing policymakers to challenges unique to rural communities. Visit us at www.frs.org.
NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association is the premier association representing nearly 850 independent, community-based telecommunications companies that are leading innovation in rural and small-town America. In an era of transformative technological advancements, regulatory challenges and marketplace competition, NTCA members are leading the technological evolution for rural consumers, delivering robust and high-quality services over future-proof networks that make rural communities vibrant places in which to live and do business. Because of their efforts, rural America is fertile ground for innovation in economic development, e-commerce, health care, agriculture and education, and it contributes billions of dollars to the U.S. economy each year. Visit us at www.ntca.org.