New this year, the SRT Board of Directors voted to nearly double the total dollar amount of scholarships given to students in the SRT service area.

The following six students each won a $2,000 SRT General Scholarship: Josie Bryn, Rugby, TGU Towner High School; Alena Hall, Newburg, Our Redeemer’s Christian School; Cambel Johnson, Minot, Minot North High School; Melissa Kuhnhenn, Upham, TGU Towner High School; Rose Schiele, Balfour, Velva High School; and Wilson Wald, Minot, Minot High School.

A panel of SRT Board members and employees judged the applications on scholastic performance and achievements, as well as volunteerism and community involvement.

Students were required to write an essay discussing the ways technology has made community service or involvement more accessible.

Austin Lakefield of Mohall won the $3,000 SRT Technical Scholarship. He will attend Valley City State University and study Career and Technical Education.

The SRT Technical Scholarship can be awarded to a graduating high school senior or an undergraduate student currently enrolled in a two-year or four-year college. Applicants were required to submit volunteerism and community involvement, scholastic performance, and an essay describing how they can use their education and technology to reach rural and underserved populations. A letter of recommendation from a community member or educator was also required.

“With more than 100 applications this year, we are thrilled to see such great reception from area students,” said Cassidy Hjelmstad, SRT CEO and General Manager. “Year after year, it’s incredible to see the outstanding community stewardship and scholastics, and SRT is so proud to support these students in their next steps after high school.”

Additionally, the local winner of the $2,500 FRS Scholarship is Tukker Fedje of Bottineau High School, who was one of 50 selected from a pool of more than 2,000 applicants nationwide. He intends to study finance at the University of North Dakota.

FRS Scholarship applicants were judged on scholastic performance and were required to write an essay about their intended field of study and how it could benefit their rural community.

Logan Weems of Newburg School will represent SRT at the three-day Youth Tour in Washington, D.C., this summer, an opportunity also provided by FRS. Participants will learn about the telecommunications industry, tour the nation’s capital, and meet with legislative leaders to discuss their experiences in rural North Dakota.