Local Students Invited to Apply for 2026 FRS Opportunities

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 below, 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 below.

For more information about the FRS Scholarships or Youth Tour, contact Amy Harrison at (912) 685-2121, (800) 247-1266, or via email at [email protected].