Uintah Basin high school students can now apply for STRATA’s scholarships and youth programs. Graduating seniors, whose parents are members of the cooperative, can apply for a variety of scholarships, which include seven $2,500 scholarships and three renewable scholarships for up to $10,000 each. There are also scholarship opportunities available for nontraditional students wishing to pursue higher education at local institutions in the Uintah Basin. In addition to providing nearly $50,000 in scholarships, STRATA will also offer leadership and educational opportunities for high school students who are dependents of STRATA members in good standing:
FRS Youth Tour to Washington, D.C.
This spring, six high school students, ages 16-17, will be selected to attend the Foundation for Rural (FRS) Youth Tour in Washington, D.C. The FRS Youth Tour is an all-expense-paid educational trip for high school students to Washington, D.C., The tour brings over 100 high school students from across rural America together for an educational and exciting experience as they tour the nation’s capital. While there, students get to explore some of the most historical sites in the nation, while learning about rural telecommunications by attending meetings with industry leaders and members of congress. This year’s tour is scheduled for June 4-8, 2016.
Union High School Senior Kyle Hanke attended the 2015 FRS Youth Tour and said that his experience in Washington, D.C. was a great opportunity. “My experience was incredible; once-in-a-lifetime,” said Hanke. “I learned that the FRS is representing companies like STRATA in helping them communicate to the FCC what our needs are and letting us have a voice in America.”
To be eligible to apply for the FRS Youth Tour, students must be age 16 or 17 at the time of the tour.
UREA Youth Leadership Challenge at Snow College
A group of high school juniors will also be sponsored to attend the annual UREA Youth Leadership Challenge, at Snow College in Ephraim, Utah, the week of July 18-22, 2016. UREA Challenge week is full of opportunities to develop leadership skills, build self-esteem, and make new friends from other schools, while also learning about how a cooperative, like STRATA, functions.
“UREA brings youth from all over the state and we come together, we interact, we learn, we develop leadership skills,” said Connor Snow, a 2015 UREA Youth Leadership participant. “I think that the best way to learn is if you’re actually enjoying it. And I think UREA was the epitome of that. We learned things because we were enjoying our time there.”
Applications for scholarships and youth programs can be picked up from STRATA Networks’ locations in Roosevelt or Vernal or downloaded online at www.stratanetworks.com/youthopportunities. Applications must be submitted to STRATA’s main office no later than March 4, 2016.