Bennington Student Selected for National Telecommunications Scholarship
RayeAnn Underwood, a senior at Bennington High School was selected to receive a $1000 academic scholarship by the Fund for Rural Education and Development (FRED). Sponsored by Twin Valley Telephone, the given award is based on merit and demonstrated commitment to rural life. Kathy Coleman, Marketing Specialist presented RayeAnn with the award. FRED will send the awarded scholarship to Cloud County Community College on behalf of RayeAnn. FRED selected 63 students from rural areas throughout the United States, and received more than 200 exceptional applications sponsored by rural independent telephone companies and cooperatives.
FRED, a national charitable foundation located in Washington, DC, was founded in 1989 by the Organization for the Promotion and Advancement of Small Telecommunications Companies (OPASTCO). The FRED Scholarship Program is made possible through the generosity of more than 500 small, independent telephone companies operating in rural areas across the United States and Canada. Twin Valley Telephone is both a member of OPASTCO and supporter of FRED.
Ben Foster, from Twin Valley Telephone wrote a letter of commendation on behalf of RayeAnn so that her application could be accepted and reviewed. FRED and its advocates strive to promote education and development in rural areas. FRED also works to publicize the fact that more than 500 small, independent telephone companies in the U.S. and Canada are providing state-of-the-art telecommunications technologies and service to their customers. These small telephone companies, including Twin Valley Telephone, are a valuable asset to their rural communities. Twin Valley Telephone and the FRED Foundation are helping to create educational opportunities for rural America’s greatest resource, their younger generations.
“RayeAnn was selected among an outstanding group of young people to represent ‘the best of the best’,” stated FRED Foundation Director, Melissa Korzuch. “The primary interest of the foundation is to assist students with high potential for success and a strong desire to return to a rural community upon graduation. We were overwhelmed by the remarkable credentials of the applicants. Each of this year’s FRED Scholars is very intelligent and exceedingly active in their community. We hope every FRED Scholar will someday return to their hometowns to contribute to the community that clearly gave them an admirable, productive start in life.”
For more information about the FRED Foundation and its programs, contact Kathy Coleman at Twin Valley Telephone.
FRED CONTACT: Amanda Thaxton, FRED Program Coordinator (202) 659-5990 ext 264.
TELCO CONTACT: Kathy Coleman, Twin Valley Telephone, 800.515.3311
