Two High School Graduates, Sponsored by Pineland Telephone, Receive National FRS  Scholarship Awards  

Founded in 1994, The Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) is the philanthropic arm of NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association. FRS has awarded over $1 million in scholarships since its  inception; empowering rural students throughout the country to advance their communities with  invaluable skill sets and experiences. The FRS College Scholarship Program awards one-time  scholarships to students from rural America for their first year of college, university, or  vocational-technical school. Each student is sponsored by an NTCA member company.  

Pineland Telephone Cooperative, Inc. sponsored 28 students from its service area and is proud  to announce that two of those students were chosen as FRS Scholarship recipients: Ellen  Hendrix from Metter and Jordan Powell of Vidalia. This is the first time that two Pineland  sponsored applicants have been awarded scholarships. 

Ellen graduated from Metter High School and is the daughter of Kevin and Amy Hendrix. During  her high school career, Ellen was active with the Kiwanis Key Club, Y-Club, volunteered with the  Second Harvest Food Bank and Metter United Methodist Church, served on the Pineland Bank  Junior Board, was a Certified Teen Leader of the Candler County 4-H Club, and a graduate of  Candler Youth Leadership. Ellen served as class president each year of high school and was an  active member of the MHS Science Club, Debate Team, and the Future Business Leaders of  America (FBLA). In addition to these accomplishments, she has competed as a member of  Studio South Dance Academy, MHS Varsity Football Sideline Cheer, and is currently employed at Hendrix Produce and Candler Pharmacy. Ellen plans to major in Pharmacy at the University  of Georgia and was awarded the JSI Staurulakis Family Scholarship Award of $5,000. 

Jordan is a Vidalia Heritage Academy graduate and the son of Jeremy and Joni Powell. He has  received recognition for his outstanding academic performance throughout his high school  career, including Highest Overall GPA, and was a member of the National Honor Society.  Jordan competed in GAPPS Academic Competitions, avidly served on the Harvard Model  Congress since his freshman year, and participated in varsity football, and track and field.  Jordan has served his community through his volunteer work with multiple organizations,  including The Salvation Army and Master’s Closet, and his tutoring at Vidalia Heritage  Academy. Jordan excelled in academics and community service while fostering his aspiration  of becoming an attorney through his full-time internship at The Tillery Law Firm. Jordan plans to  continue his education at Georgia Southern University and was awarded the FRS Scholarship  Award of $2,500.

“We are very excited and pleased to learn that two of our sponsored students were selected as  FRS Scholarship winners”, says General Manager, Dustin Durden. “Ellen and Jordan are  exceptionally motivated individuals with bright futures ahead. We wish them the best of luck in  their next endeavors.”  

“FRS is honored to be able to help the students served by NTCA member companies as they  head off to their first year of school,” said FRS Executive Director Pam Becker. “Congratulations  to Ellen Hendrix and Jordan Powell for receiving scholarships and thank you to Pineland  Telephone Cooperative and all our donors who make the FRS scholarship program possible  each year.”  

Pineland serves over 1,300 square miles with its traditional Phone and Internet services in all or parts of  ten-counties in South Georgia. Beginning its 70th year, 100% of Pineland’s Phone and Internet customers  receive their services via a dedicated Fiber-to-the-Home network offering Gigabit enabled Broadband  connections. 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, community-based 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 https://www.ntca.org.