Special to the Journal
Tara Alexandra Smith, a GAMES Student at Middle Georgia State College, Cochran Campus, was selected to receive the Foundation for Rural Education and Development’s (FRED) top award, the Everette Kneece Return to Rural America Scholarship, a $5,000 academic scholarship. Nominated by ComSouth, the Everette Kneece Return to Rural America Scholarship is based on merit and demonstrated commitment to rural life. FRED will send the awarded scholarship to Middle Georgia State College, Cochran Campus on behalf of Smith in late August of 2013.
FRED selected 53 students from rural areas throughout the United States who were nominated by rural independent telecommunication companies and cooperatives. FRED awarded a total of $75,000 in 2013, which brings the total scholarship amount to $1.2 million.
FRED, a national charitable foundation located in Washington, DC, was founded in 1989. The FRED Scholarship Program, now in its 21st year, is made possible through the generosity of more than 500 small, independent telecommunications companies operating in rural areas across the United States and Canada.
Robert W. Krueger, President and CEO, from ComSouth wrote a letter of recommendation on behalf of Smith so that her application could be accepted and reviewed. “Tara is a very accomplished and deserving recipient of the Everette Kneece Return to Rural America Scholarship, and we look forward to great achievements from her in the future,” he said.
FRED strives to promote education and development in rural areas. Small telecommunications companies, including ComSouth, are a valuable asset to their rural communities. ComSouth and FRED are helping to create educational opportunities for rural America’s greatest resource, their younger generations.
“We are thrilled to award the Everette Kneece Return to Rural America Scholarship to Tara Smith. She was selected among an outstanding group of young people to represent ‘the best of the best’,” said FRED Executive Director, Melissa Korzuch. “FRED aims to assist students with high potential for success and a strong desire to return to a rural community upon graduation. We were overwhelmed by the remarkable credentials of the applicants. Each of this year’s FRED Scholars is very intelligent and exceedingly active in their community. We hope they all will someday return to their hometowns to contribute to the community that clearly gave them an admirable, productive start in life.”
More information about the successful applicants and how to apply for next year’s program is available at www.fred.org. FRED is a charitable 501©(3) foundation.
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