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Scholarships, grants available

Four special community-focused grant and scholarship programs offering more than $200,000 in funding are now available through Whidbey Telecom. These unique opportunities have been designed to benefit rural communities and are accessible to students, teachers and organizations in Whidbey Telecom’s service area.

The programs are sponsored by The Foundation for Rural Education and Development (FRED), a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation located in Washington, D.C. that is affiliated with the Organization for the Promotion and Advancement of Small Telecommunications Companies (OPASTCO).

As an OPASTCO member, Whidbey Telecom qualifies to provide access to these programs. Applicants must be sponsored by Whidbey Telecom and live within Whidbey Telecom’s service areas. For application forms and please visit www.fred.org.

The scholarship program awards an estimated $70,000 to the best and brightest students from rural America. OPASTCO Telco members are eligible to nominate students who live and/or attend school in the service area of their companies. Application deadline is February 8, 2008.

The Ethyl Grant Program provides $500-$2,500 in matching funds for community development and educational projects in OPASTCO telephone company members’ service areas. Applications for this program are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year.

Technology grants for rural schools provides support for technology improvements in rural schools. This program features grants of up to $10,000 to public schools that are working to enhance learning by increasing the use of technology in the classroom. Application deadline is September 13, 2008.