Scholarship Opportunities

Committed to the future of rural Minnesota

As an investment in our youth, West Central Telephone is committed to the future of rural Minnesota. We are pleased to announce the following scholarship opportunities and invite all high school seniors to apply. 

Minnesota Telecom Alliance Foundation Scholarships

The MTA Foundation will award five general scholarships and one Jon Tollefson Technology Scholarship to high school seniors graduating in 2025. The two types of scholarships available this year are:

  • One $3,000 Jon Tollefson Scholarship: Applicants must be majoring in either Telecommunications or Information Technology (IT) at a university, college, or technical college and be a Minnesota resident to be eligible.
  • One of five $2,000 general scholarships: Applicants must be a high school senior with plans on attending post-secondary education at a university, college, or technical college, be a Minnesota resident, and the applicant’s family must subscribe to at least one service from an MTA member company to be eligible.  *Note: The Bud Morrow Scholarship will be awarded to the highest-scoring applicant in this category and receives an additional $1,000.
  • Three additional $1,000 grants may be awarded to eligible graduating seniors who are Minnesota residents and plan to major in Telecommunications or Information Technology (IT) at a university, college, or technical college. They must also be employed by an active MTA member company or their parents are employed by an active MTA member company.

Visit the MTA Foundation Scholarship to complete the application. Once completed, the application must be printed and submitted to WCTA by February 17, 2025.

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FRS College Scholarship Program

The FRS College Scholarship program provides $2,000 and the sponsoring NTCA member company provides $500 for a total of $2,500. In additional to the FRS general scholarships, FRS has the following named scholarships*

  • JSI Scholarships
  • Everett Kneece Scholarship
  • Sarah Tyree Good Neighbor Scholarship
  • Herbert and Isabel Bitz Memorial Scholarship
  • Diana Jo Meyer Memorial Scholarship
  • Cronin Communications Scholarship
  • V+C Trust Scholarship

*Submitting one application is sufficient for eligibility of all available scholarships. Scholarships are completed online and must be submitted no later than February 14, 2025.  For applications and guidelines, see your high school guidance counselor or visit https://www.frs.org/programs/youth-programs/scholarships.

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2nd Year or Beyond Scholarship

Current college students are urged to apply for a $1,000 scholarship through the 2nd Year or Beyond Scholarship. Students who graduated from high school and are from any one of the five districts of WCTA currently attending 2nd year or beyond higher education are eligible. Past scholarship winners are also eligible. The application deadline is May 30, 2025  Click here for scholarship application

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