Ben Lomand Connect Announces Scholarship Recipient

Ben Lomand Connect announces that Warren County High School student Victor McBride has been awarded a Foundation for Rural Service Scholarship (FRS). Founded in 1994, FRS is the philanthropic arm of the NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association, of which Ben Lomand Connect is a member.
“We are proud to present a $2,500 check to Victor on behalf of the Foundation for Rural Service,” Ben Lomand CEO Greg Smartt says. “It’s such an honor to be selected for the FRS scholarship, and we are very happy that someone with Victor’s work ethic and desire to serve was chosen for this scholarship.”
After four years with JROTC, Victor plans to attend Virginia Military Institute on a JROTC scholarship with the goal of becoming a U.S. Army surgeon. He is the son of Lisa Marie McBride and is the first recipient of an FRS scholarship from BLC since 2016. At Warren County High School, Victor served as the Command Sergeant Major of the Pioneer Battalion of the Junior ROTC program, the male team commander for the raider team, and tech commander of the color guard team. “I decided I wanted to attend Virginia Military Institute because it looks like the college that posed the greatest challenge and would provide me with the courage and determination I will need through the rigorous process of medical school and residency,” Victor says.
The FRS Scholarship Program awards one-time scholarships to students from rural communities for their first year of college, university, or vocational-technical school. Each student is sponsored by an NTCA member company that may also contribute a portion of the scholarship award. With over 1,100 applications submitted this year, FRS awarded a total of $124,000 for 42 scholarships to students across the country. “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. Congratulations to Victor,” said Pam Becker, Executive Director of FRS.