Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) Scholarship Program

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FRS Scholarship Program Applications Available January 2010

If you have a son or daughter graduating from high school this spring, he or she may be eligible for the Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) Scholarship sponsored locally by SkyLine Membership Corporation.

This year, a total of 30 one-time, $2,500 scholarships will be awarded to rural high school seniors: one per geographic region of the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA) membership and one to a student sponsored by a NTCA associate member. The remaining 14 awards will be distributed proportionate to the number of applications received per region. FRS will fund $2,000 of each scholarship, with the sponsoring cooperative of each winning student providing a $500 match.

According to the FRS, more than two-thirds of rural Americans with postsecondary degrees never return to their rural communities, so this program gives particular emphasis to those students who plan to return to their community following college. See eligibility requirements below.

Application packets will be available beginning Friday, January 15, at all area high school guidance departments and at SkyLine Customer Service Centers in West Jefferson, Seven Devils and Sparta. You also may download a scholarship application here. Completed applications must be submitted to SkyLine’s corporate offices by Wednesday, February 17. All applicants must be sponsored by SkyLine, and completed applications received by this deadline will be signed by a SkyLine official and submitted to the FRS for consideration by the March 1 postmark deadline. If any SkyLine-sponsored students are named winners, they will be announced in May, in conjunction with area high school awards day programs.

As the advocacy arm of the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA), the FRS promotes, educates and advocates rural telecom issues in order to sustain and enhance the quality of life within communities throughout rural America. Through its various programs and initiatives, the foundation strongly supports the continuing education of rural youth. SkyLine is a member of NTCA, a national non-profit association that represents more than 580 independent telephone companies and cooperatives.

About the Program:

SkyLine Membership Corporation is a local sponsor of the annual Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) Scholarship Program. Area high school seniors whose parents are telephone service customers of SkyLine Membership Corporation of SkyBest Communications may apply for a $2,500 Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) Scholarship.

FRS was established in 1994 by the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA), of which SkyLine is a member. The FRS promotes, educates and advocates rural telecom issues in order to sustain and enhance the quality of life within communities throughout rural America. Through its various programs and initiatives, the foundation strongly supports the continuing education of rural youth.

This year, a total of 30 one-time, $2,500 scholarships will be awarded to rural high school seniors: one per geographic region of the NTCA membership and one to a student sponsored by a NTCA associate member. The remaining 19 awards are distributed proportionate to the number of applications received per region. FRS will fund $2,000 of each scholarship, with the sponsoring cooperative of each winning student providing a $500 match.

According to the FRS, more than two-thirds of rural Americans with postsecondary degrees never return to their rural communities, so this program gives particular emphasis to those students who plan to return to their community following college. Eligibility requirements include the following:

Eligibility:

Applicants must:

»	Applicants must be children of SkyLine members or SkyBest Communications customers who subscribe to either company's telephone services.
»	Applicants must be graduating high school seniors who reside full-time with their parent(s) in the companies' service area.
»	Applicants must 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.
»	Applicants must be accepted to an accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school.
»	Applicants must express an interest to return to a rural community following graduation.
»	Applications must be sponsored by SkyLine, an NTCA-member company.
»	Children of SkyLine employees or directors are not eligible for the FRS Scholarship.

To date, five area high school students have been named as FRS Scholarship winners:

2006
Justin Hodges
Michelle Rhodes

2007
Ray Phipps

2009
Katie Cole
Jessica Koontz

For more information about the FRS Scholarship, please contact Karen Powell, SkyLine Public Relations Director, at SkyLine’s corporate offices at (800) 759-2226.

FRS SCHOLARSHIP CONTACTS

Alleghany High School
     Guidance Department, 336-372-4554

Ashe County High School
     Lynnette Stallings, Guidance Department, 336-846-2400

Avery County High School
     Amy Smith, Guidance Department, 828-733-0151

Watauga High School
     Jane Rogers, Guidance Department, 828-264-2407

Johnson County High School
     Scott Plyler, Guidance Department, 423-727-2620

SkyLine Membership Corporation
     Karen Powell, Public Relations Director, 800-759-2226

FRS Scholarship Eligibility, Instructions, Terms, & Conditions

FRS Scholarship Frequently Asked Questions

Deadline
Wednesday, February 17, 2010