Veronica Bair of Culbertson has been awarded a $2,500 nationwide scholarship from the Foundation for Rural Education and Development (FRED).
Veronica is a student at McCook Senior High School. Great Plains Communications served as Veronica’s official sponsor and recommended her for this scholarship. She is one of 9 students to win the $2,500 scholarship.
FRED is a charitable foundation that awards scholarships to students from rural backgrounds based on merit and a demonstrated commitment to rural life. Students must be interested in pursuing a career in the telecommunications industry or show an interest in returning to rural America.
Bair will attend the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in the fall to pursue a degree in civil engineering. She currently has 3 siblings attending UNL.
“As long as there is a need for safer bridges, better highways, or improved sewer systems, there will be a need for civil engineers. My aim is to become a civil engineer and use my aptitude for math to solve complex, real life problems,” said Bair in her application essay.
Great Plains Communications is a strong supporter of educational efforts in the communities it serves. The company provides approximately $15,000 worth of educational scholarships to students annually. The company’s “Commitment to Our Schools” grant program provides $20,000 to schools to provide additional funding for special projects and initiatives. These efforts help schools and students achieve their dreams and serves to fight rural brain drain.