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 Scholarships
Each year, FRED awards $75,000 in scholarships to rural America's most accomplished and intelligent students. Scholarships range from $1,000 to $5,000, and are funded by the FRED Scholarship Endowment and donations to FRED’s Annual Giving Campaign. The Everette Kneece Return to Rural America Scholarship honors Mr. Kneece's vital and pioneering efforts on behalf of FRED, and awards $5,000 to the year's top applicant.
How you can help: Your donation to this scholarship fund is an excellent way to support college-bound students in your community. With your support, FRED will continue to increase the amount and size of the scholarships awarded. If you would like to support this program with a donation, please contact Melissa Korzuch.
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 Leadership Through Learning
The Leadership Through Learning (LTL) program provides a hands-on approach to education. Select rural high school juniors and seniors from across the U.S., are invited to spend an all expense-paid week in our nation’s capital to learn about government, civic affairs and telecommunications regulation. During their week in Washington, D.C., students are immersed in the political process and experience the history of America. Students visit the monuments and memorials in the area, as well as the Smithsonian Museums, the National Archives, and the Library of Congress. Students get a feel for the political heartbeat of Washington by touring the Supreme Court, the Capitol, and visiting with their members of Congress. The program offers these students an opportunity to interact with their peers from rural communities across America. The LTL program is fully funded through sponsorships, making the program free-of-charge to both you and the chosen student. Telcos that participate in this program gain visibility in their communities and offer students an experience of a lifetime. ACE, Berry, NECA and Power & Tel Supply are the sponsors of the 2011 Leadership Through Learning Program.
How you can help: This program provides a great way for your company to get exposure with OPASTCO members. If you would like to sponsor this program, please contact Melissa Korzuch.
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Ethyl Grants
The Ethyl Grant program teams with OPASTCO member companies to provide matching grants to fund projects aimed at bettering their communities. The grants, ranging from $500 - $2,500, are awarded on a rolling basis throughout the year and must be matched by the community. There are two types of Ethyl Grants that may be awarded, the Educational Grant and the Community Development Grant. This matching grant program focuses on ways rural communities can work together to meet a collective need. Grants have been used for projects such as building wheelchair ramps and accessible bathrooms in a local baseball park, purchasing a school’s first Smart Board for their classrooms, and creating a safe playing environment for school-age children. Bennet & Bennet, PLLC and Ericsson are the sponsors of the 2011 Ethyl Grant Program.
How you can help: As a sponsor, you can help rural communities better the lives of their citizens of all ages. These grants provide a great incentive to communities that are finding new and innovative ways to bring the people in their area together. If you would like to sponsor this program, please contact Melissa Korzuch.
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.jpg) Technology Grant
One of the most popular and competitive FRED programs, the Technology Grants for Rural Schools program, was created to help meet the growing need for innovative technology in the classroom. The grants strive to help public schools, served by OPASTCO members, connect to high speed broadband, bring modern computers to every classroom, and ensure effective, engaging software and online resources are an integral part of the curriculum. By actively engaging rural students with the latest technology, they are better prepared for college and the workforce. The program runs annually and awards grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000.
How you can help: Sponsors of this program have a direct and positive impact on students in rural communities for years to come, while simultaneously keeping your name in the forefront of the community. If you would like to sponsor this program, please contact Melissa Korzuch.
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