Reservation Telephone Cooperative (RTC) is proud to announce the 2010 scholarship winners. RTC awarded 9 college scholarships this year. Scholarships were awarded to one high school senior from each director district and to one senior at large. Each winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship. RTC received 45 scholarship applications from high school seniors throughout their serving area.

District 1A - Seth Tanner Tescher will be graduating from Beach High School. He plans to attend the University of Mary in Bismarck to major in Finance. Seth is the son of Ray and Jill Tescher of the Squaw Gap exchange.

District 1B- Derek Thompson will be graduating from Watford City High School. He plans to attend Bismarck State College to major in Plant Biology. Derek is the son of Travis and Lisa Thompson of the Keene exchange.

District 2A - Jacobi Moe will be graduating from New Town High School. She plans to attend Minot State University to major in Music. Jacobi is the daughter of Mary Beth Jarski of the New Town exchange.

District 2B - Shelby Deserly will be graduating from New Town High School. She plans to attend Minot State University to major in Pre-Dental Hygiene. Shelby is the daughter of Ron and Sheila Deserly of the New Town exchange.

District 3 - Brittany Harris will be graduating from Kenmare High School. She plans to attend the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks to major in Pre Med. She is the daughter of Tim and Melissa Harris of the Kenmare exchange.

District 4 - Harrison Zacher will be graduating from Parshall High School. He plans to attend University of North Dakota in Grand Forks to major in Pre-Mortuary Science. Harrison is the son of Chris and Ruth Zacher of the Parshall exchange.

District 5 - Kati Brandt will be graduating from North Shore High School. She plans to attend Dakota College in Bottineau to major in Landscape Technology. Kati is the daughter of Dwayne and Lynda Brandt of the Ryder exchange.

District 6 - Sierra Lassila will be graduating from Garrison High School. She plans to attend Valley City State University to major in Music Business and Business Administration. Sierra is the daughter of Jeanna Severance of the Garrison exchange.

At Large - Sibinee Jokela will be graduating from Watford City High School. She plans to attend Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. Sibinee is the daughter of Mark and Jamie Jokela of the Watford City exchange.

RTC is excited to announce that Sibinee Jokela has also won one of the twenty-five 2010 National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA) Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) college scholarships.

The aim of the FRS scholarship program is to help further higher education opportunities among rural high school students. The scholarship program was open to all graduating high school seniors who receive local telecommunications service from RTC or another participating telephone cooperative. Applicants needed to indicate a desire to return to a rural community once their collegiate studies have been completed. 

This year, the FRS scholarship program awarded twenty-five, $2,500 scholarships to rural youth across the United States. The foundation provides $2,000 and the each winner's local telephone co-op provides an additional $500, bringing the total scholarship award to $2,500.

"We are thrilled to have the opportunity to show our support for the youth of our community by sponsoring a student for the FRS College Scholarship Program," said RTC CEO/General Manager Royce Aslakson. "We view this program as an investment not only in the students, but in the future of rural America."