Local Students Invited to Apply for 2026 Scholarships
Applications are now open for two exciting opportunities offered through the Foundation for Rural Service (FRS): the 2026 FRS Scholarships and the 2026 FRS Youth Tour to Washington, D.C. These annual programs, made possible through FRS and NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association, reflect Pineland’s ongoing commitment to supporting education, leadership, and community growth among students in rural Georgia.
High school seniors residing and attending school within the Pineland service area are invited to apply for the FRS Scholarships, which help promote higher education, and recognize academic achievement and community involvement. One application qualifies students for consideration for all available scholarships, including the FRS General Scholarship, Common Ground Scholarship, Everett Kneece Scholarship, Herbert & Isabel Bitz Memorial Scholarship, JSI Scholarship, Sarah Tyree Good Neighbor Scholarship, Nontraditional Student Scholarship, Tim Ownes-Ron Laudner Scholarship, and the Diana Jo Dreyer Memorial Scholarship. Recipients of the FRS General Scholarship from the Pineland service area will receive an additional $500 contribution from Pineland, increasing the total one-time award to $2,500. The deadline to apply for the 2026 FRS Scholarships is February 14, 2026; applications are submitted online through the link on the Pineland website (www.pineland. net) under “News”, and students must select Pineland Telephone Cooperative, Inc. – Metter, GA as their sponsoring company.
In addition, Pineland will sponsor two local students to represent the community during the 2026 FRS Youth Tour, taking place June 1–5, 2026, in Washington, D.C. Since 1995, the Youth Tour has brought together high school students from rural areas across the country for a week of exploration, education, and leadership development in the nation’s capital. Participants will visit historical landmarks and museums, meet with congressional representatives and FCC staff, and engage with peers from other rural communities. Applicants must reside and attend school within the Pineland service area, be between 15 and 17 years old at the time of the tour, and demonstrate leadership qualities through school or community involvement. As part of the application, students must write an essay on the topic of Economic Development in Rural America; How Broadband Affects Daily Life in My Rural America, and obtain a letter of recommendation from their high school counselor. The deadline to apply for the Youth Tour is March 20, 2026. The application form can be found on the Pineland website (www.pineland. net) under “News”.
For more information about the FRS Scholarships or Youth Tour, contact Amy Harrison at (912) 685-2121, (800) 247-1266, or via email at info@pinelandtelco.com.
Pineland Telephone Cooperative, Inc. serves over 2,000 square miles with its Phone, Internet, and Technology services in all or parts of thirteen counties in South Georgia.
Pineland’s mission is to offer an outstanding customer experience through the efficient delivery of progressive technology solutions in the markets served. We will achieve this mission by applying our Core Values of Excellence, Integrity, Innovation, and a Servant’s Heart in everything we do. The Foundation for Rural Service (FRS), the philanthropic arm of NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association and its members, seeks to sustain and enhance the quality of life in rural America by advancing an understanding of rural issues. Through scholarships, grants, and a variety of educational programs, FRS focuses on educating rural youth, encouraging community development, and introducing policymakers to challenges unique to rural communities. Visit us at www.frs.org.
NTCA, The Rural Broadband Association is the premier association representing nearly 850 independent, communitybased telecommunications companies that are leading innovation in rural and small-town America. In an era of transformative technological advancements, regulatory challenges, and marketplace competition, NTCA members are leading the technological evolution for rural consumers, delivering robust and high-quality services over future-proof networks that make rural communities vibrant places in which to live and do business. Because of their efforts, rural America is fertile ground for innovation in economic development, e-commerce, health care, agriculture, and education, and it contributes billions of dollars to the U.S. economy each year. Visit us at www. ntca.org.
