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:
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Applicants must be children of SkyLine members or SkyBest Communications customers who subscribe to either company's telephone services.
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Applicants must be graduating high school seniors who reside full-time with their parent(s) in the companies' service area.
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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.
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Applicants must be accepted to an accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school.
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Applicants must express an interest to return to a rural community following graduation.
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Applications must be sponsored by SkyLine, an NTCA-member company.
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Children of SkyLine employees or directors are not eligible for the FRS Scholarship.
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Scholarship applications are now available at area high school guidance departments (see listing of guidance department contacts) and all SkyLine Customer Service Centers. You also may click here to download a scholarship application. Completed applications must be submitted to SkyLine’s corporate offices in West Jefferson by
Tuesday, February 19, 2008.
To date, three area high school students have been named as FRS Scholarship winners: Michelle Rhodes, Justin Hodges and Ray Phipps.
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 –
Winkie Clifton, Guidance Department, 336-372-4554
Ashe County High School –
Lynnette Stallings, Guidance Department, 336-846-2400
Avery County High School –
Jeff McManus, Guidance Department, 828-733-0151
Watauga High School –
Jane Rogers, Guidance Department, 828-264-2407
Johnson County High School –
Denise Arnold, Guidance Department, 423-727-2620
SkyLine Membership Corporation –
Karen Powell, Public Relations Director, 800-759-2226
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