East Hardy High Senior Caitlin Fitzwater has been awarded a $2,500 college scholarship sponsored by Hardy Telecommunications and the Foundation for Rural Service.
Caitlin is one of only 47 students selected nationwide from a pool of more than 1,500 applicants from rural communities served by members of NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association. Hardy Telecommunications is a member of NTCA. An independent committee of judges picked the recipients for FRS; Hardy Telecommunications was not involved in the actual selection, although only students sponsored by NTCA companies were eligible and Hardy agreed to sponsor part of the scholarship should a Hardy applicant be chosen.
“Hardy Telecommunications is so happy that someone as deserving as Caitlin is receiving this award,” said Derek Barr, Hardy’s director of customer service and sales, marketing and human resources. “Because the judging is done by an independent national committee, Caitlin’s achievement truly deserves to be celebrated.”
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. Students completed an application process including an essay about how their rural community has shaped them and how they would like to help their area in the future.
FRS Executive Director Jessica Golden said the judges were moved and impressed by Fitzwater’s application.
“FRS is extremely proud of our college scholarship program and the people who make it possible: the astounding students who apply and the supportive companies that sponsor them. Our 47 scholarship winners have proven their academic abilities – often despite challenging personal circumstances – and have also showcased a remarkable love and appreciation for their communities. We wish all awardees the best in their future endeavors and hope they feel a great sense of support and community pride,” she said.
Caitlin thanked Hardy Telecommunications and FRS for the scholarship and said the funds help to make possible her goal of attaining a higher education degree in either radiation oncology or nursing.
“Without this (additional funding), I wouldn’t be able to go to college because I wouldn’t be able to afford it,” she said.
Caitlin said her essay focused on her rural upbringing and the example set by her mother, a single parent who has worked extremely hard to afford opportunities for her daughter. Caitlin herself maintains a busy work schedule in addition to going to school and preparing for graduation. Her plans right now are to attend West Virginia Wesleyan College. She said she hopes to return to a rural area after graduation and start a foundation for cancer patients with limited financial means, providing support for both physical and emotional needs.
“Often the emotional needs of cancer patients are overlooked, but those need to be treated as well,” she said.
The $2,500 scholarship is funded with $2,000 from FRS and $500 from Hardy Telecommunications. The actual check will be presented to Fitzwater in July.
Established in 1994 by NTCA – the Rural Broadband Association, the Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that promotes, educates and advocates rural telecom issues in order to sustain and enhance the quality of life within communities throughout rural America.