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Rural Youth Eligible for FRS Scholarships
. . .
The Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) offers an annual college
scholarship program to help further higher education among rural
youth. FRS awards one-time $2,500 scholarships to students from
rural America for their first year of college, university or vocational-
technical school. The FRS Staurulakis Family Scholarship provides
four $5,000 awards, giving preference to students in rural communi-
ties with an interest in science, math, medicine or engineering. In
addition, students will be awarded two $1,500 TMS Scholarships and
one $2,500 Everett Kneece Return to Rural America Scholarship, and
the Colt Ford Scholarship will award up to $15,000 to rural students.
Applicants Must Meet These Criteria:
• Be a graduating high school senior.
• Receive local telecommunications service from a current NTCA
member, such as RTC.
• Be accepted by an accredited two- or four-year college, university or
vocational-technical school.
• Have at least a C grade point average (GPA). FRS scholarships will
be awarded to deserving students whose academic credentials fall
within an average to above-average range.
• Express an interest to return to a rural community following
graduation.
• Be sponsored by a contributor to, or supporter of, the Foundation
for Rural Service.
Application Instructions:
• Type (preferred) or print all requested information.
• Complete the scholarship application in full. If any information is
incomplete, the application will be rejected.
• Prepare a 300-word essay on one of the following topics:
– Describe your most significant accomplishment and explain
why you believe it to be your most outstanding.
– Describe the community in which you live and indicate how it
has influenced the person you are.
– What industry or opportunity would entice you to return to a
rural community after completing your education, and why?
• Have a high school teacher or guidance counselor complete the
Educator’s Statement. Statements must be submitted in a sealed
envelope from the author.
Please ask the author to enclose two copies
of his/her letter.
• Submit one letter of recommendation from a local community
leader other than an educator (telephone company personnel,
elected official, local business leader, etc.). Recommendations
must be submitted in a sealed envelope from the author.
Please
ask the author to enclose two copies of his/her letter.
• Include two copies of your most recent grade transcript (all seven
semesters must be represented).
• Have the manager or board president of your sponsoring
company endorse your application, and thus commit to the match
requirement. Unsigned applications, or those signed by a person
other than the manager or board president, will not be accepted for
consideration.
• Do not include any photographs with your application.
• All signatures must be provided where indicated on the application.
• All materials, including recommendations letters, must be
submitted together.
Please see the application for Terms and Conditions.
How to Apply:
We encourage all eligible students to apply NOW! Applications
are available at RTC Parshall Headquarters, New Town office,
www.RTC.coop and your local high school. Applications must be
postmarked to FRS by March 1, 2016. Mail completed application
and all attachments to:
Selection Committee, Foundation for
Rural Service, 4121Wilson Boulevard Tenth Floor, Arlington
VA 22203.
RTC Scholarships will be available soon! Visit RTC.coop/
resources and click on Scholarships for details.