Scholarships

The Foundation for Rural Service (FRS), in cooperation with the NTCA—The Rural Broadband Association, seeks to sustain and enhance the quality of life in America by advancing an understanding of rural issues. In keeping with its mission, furthering the education of rural youth is one of the foundation’s primary focuses. Our company, Ben Lomand, is a member of NTCA and is proud to support FRS in this worthy endeavor.

These scholarships are available for the student’s first year of college or vocational school. All applicants require sponsorship by an NTCA—The Rural Broadband Association member company to be eligible.  As your local telecommunications service provider, it is our pleasure to offer this national scholarship program to students.

Should a student from our service area be selected to receive one of the scholarships ($2,000 each), we will contribute an additional $500 to the scholarship, bringing the total one-time scholarship award to $2,500. Students may also be eligible for four FRS Staurulakis Family Scholarships valued at $5,000 each, two TMS Scholarships for $1,500 each, or a $7,000 Everett Kneece Return to Rural America Scholarship. Students who are majoring in math, science, engineering, or medicine are given preference for the FRS Staurulakis Family Scholarships.

The scholarship applications are digital. Please instruct students interested in applying to review the materials on the FRS website before they begin their application.

Students can find directions on how to create an account and a step-by-step guide for information that will be needed in the application here. Students must create an account before applying.

Please direct any questions to foundation@frs.org.

Also, The James L. Bass Legal Scholarship is for students entering their first year of law school and who have an interest in rural communities

With an active law career that spanned more than 70 years, James Bass helped secure funds for rural telephone systems to bring modern telephone service to rural areas. He was pivotal in the creation of NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association, where he served as one of the organization’s earliest Presidents. Mr. Bass continued his leadership with service for more than 50 years as legal counsel, guiding NTCA through many challenges and opportunities.

Recognizing Mr. Bass’s impact to the industry and his passion for the legal profession, the NTCA Board established a scholarship for students entering their first year of law school and who have an interest in rural communities. The annual James L. Bass Legal Scholarship will be awarded in Spring 2022 and be at least $5,000.

Click here for information about the James L. Bass Legal Scholarship