June 2014, Geneseo, IL: The Foundation for Rural Education and Development (FRED) and Henry County Telephone Company presented Bethany Storm with a General Scholarship to help further her education.
This national telecommunications scholarship is based on student merit and rural backgrounds. The application process included writing an essay, submitting two letters of recommendation, and sponsorship by a rural independent telephone company. Storm was fortunate to be selected for one of FRED’s academic scholarships. Fifty-four students representing 23 different states were selected nationally.
“As a Past President of the Board of Directors of FRED, I am keenly aware of the large number of highly qualified students who apply for FRED scholarships each year. Bethany, her family, and her former local teachers should be extremely proud of her achievements and her personal attributes which resulted in her receiving this award,” said Karen Kohne, President of Henry County Telephone Company.
Storm will be a junior at the University of Dubuque in Dubuque, IA this fall. Her major is Elementary Education with endorsements for reading, writing, special education, math, and coaching.
“The FRED scholarship money will be used to help pay for tuition,” said Storm.
Foundation for Rural Education and Development is a charitable foundation that was established in 1989 by the Organization for Promotion and Advancement of Small Telecommunications Companies (OPASTCO), a trade association for small rural telecommunications companies and the vendors that service these companies.
During 2014, FRED is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Since 1989, FRED has awarded $2.8 million in funding for rural communities. More than 850 scholarships worth $1.27+ million have supported rural students for more than two decades. The mission of FRED is to promote educational, social and economic development in rural America and Canada. More information about FRED is available at www.fred.org.