FRS Scholarship: Win a $2,500 or $5,000 Scholarship!

The Foundation for Rural Service (FRS), a branch of the National Telephone Cooperative Association, is offering 30 scholarships nationwide. These scholarships are $2,000 each, and all high school seniors whose parents are a member of West River Cooperative Telephone Company (WRCTC) are eligible to apply.

Should a student from our service area be selected to receive one of the 30 scholarships, WRCTC will make a $500 matching contribution to the scholarship, bringing the total scholarship award to $2,500! Preference will be given to the individuals expressing an interest in returning to work in a rural area following college graduation.

In addition to the $2,500 scholarship, the Foundation for Rural Service is proud to announce the creation of four new scholarships, funded by Manny and Leo Staurulakis, of John Staurulakis, Inc. (JSI), in honor of their parents, John and Chresanthe Staurulakis and to celebrate 50 years of service to the rural telephone industry. 

The FRS Staurulakis Family Scholarships will provide four $5,000 awards and will give preference to students with an interest in science, math, medicine, or engineering.

These new scholarships will build on the existing FRS College Scholarship Program, which currently provides thirty $2,500 scholarships to students from rural communities ($2,000 from FRS and $500 from the local telco sponsor). The new Staurulakis Family Scholarships will be fully funded by JSI. Students with a focus in the sciences will automatically be considered for these new Staurulakis Family Scholarships.

Completed applications require the signature of the General Manager Jerry Reisenauer and must be postmarked no later than March 1, 2012. Please click here for an application.

Please submit essays to:

WRCTC
Attn: Rachel Eggebo
PO Box 39
Bison, SD 57620

Questions? Call 777
or 605-244-5213

Please see application for details and requirements.

ATTENTION: High School Seniors from Bison, Buffalo, Lemmon and Newell School Districts!

One senior from each school district will be awarded a $500 scholarship for the upcoming 2012-2013 school year. For a scholarship application, please click on your school district below:

                                        Bison                                                       Buffalo
                                        Lemmon                                                  Newell

Deadline is March 30, 2012.

Please mail the completed application and extra documents to:
Scholarship Program
West River Cooperative Telephone Company
PO Box 39
Bison, SD 57620

If you have questions regarding this scholarship, please contact Rachel at 605-244-5213 or 777.

High School Students ages 16 or 17: Win a Trip to Washington, D.C.

Join students from across the U.S. for the Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) Tour to Washington, D.C. on June 2 - 6, 2012!

Information on registration and the essay will be available soon.

Each year, in collaboration with NTCA member companies, FRS brings rural students from across the United States to Washington, D.C. for a four-day tour of the some of the most historical sites in the nation.  While here, students also learn about the telecommunications industry, as well as the regulatory and legislative processes.  Educational sessions on these topics are greatly enhanced by site visits to the U.S. Capitol and the Federal Communications Commission, in addition to meetings with industry leaders and members of Congress. The students also are given ample time to explore the Nation's Capital and its many attractions.  While here, the group visits such sites as the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials; The Korean, Vietnam and new World War II Memorials; Mount Vernon, home of George Washington; the Smithsonian Museums; and, much more.

Please submit essays to:

WRCTC
Attn: Rachel Eggebo
PO Box 39
Bison, SD 57620

Questions? Call 777
or 605-244-5213

All students who are 16 or 17 years of age at the time of the tour and a dependent of a WRCTC member are eligible to apply! All essays must be typed and include a cover sheet which states the title of the essay, the entrant's name and the school they attend.