Scholarships

Call us: 605-852-2224

venture@venturecomm.net

Encourage your high school senior to apply.

2022 Citizenship and Community Service Scholarship Program

Application, Deadline, and Requirements

The scholarship application is available to download here. For more information, contact the local high school counselor’s office or Venture Communications at 852-2224.

Applicants must submit the following:

• Completed typewritten application on a printed Venture Communications application form. Applications that are NOT typewritten will be disqualified.
• Application information must be typewritten on the application. No attachments will be considered.
• Photo for use in the Venture Communications newsletter and press release.
• Grade transcript for Junior and Senior years.
• Copies of the ACT test scores.
• Two letters of recommendation from faculty and/or Administration of High School or Employers. Letters of recommendation should support the information provided in the application.
• All materials in the scholarship application should be printed on one side of the paper only.

Applications are due in our office no later than March 4, 2022. Applications can either be mailed to Venture Communications, P.O. Box 157, Highmore, S.D. 57345 or scanned and emailed to venture@venturecomm.net. Applications must have the required signatures.

Judging Criteria

Judging will be done by a combination of area high school officials, business people from our exchanges, members of the Venture Communications staff and Venture Communications Directors. Applications will be judged based on the following criteria:

• Citizenship and Community Service
• School Involvement
• Leadership Skills
• Academics
• Appearance of Application

Scholarship Award Presentation

The scholarship will be awarded when possible during commencement exercises or awards presentations at the respective schools. The scholarship check will be made out in the name of the scholarship recipient.

Scholarships Opportunities

Foundation For Rural Service (FRS)

The Foundation for Rural Service awards national scholarships in the amount of $2,500, $500 of which is contributed by Venture Communications when the recipient is from our service area. This scholarship gives preference to students expressing interest in working in a rural area after graduation. All applicants must have a parent or legal guardian who is an active Venture Communications member.

Learn more about the FRS Scholarship.

South Dakota Telecommunications Association (SDTA)

The South Dakota Telecommunications Association (SDTA) annually awards scholarships under two separate programs or scholarship funds administered by the South Dakota Community Foundation, those two programs/funds include our “SDTA Memorial Scholarships” and our “Brian Meyer Memorial Scholarships.”

Learn more about the SDTA Scholarship.

The James L. Bass Legal Scholarship

With an active law career that spanned more than 70 years, James Bass helped secure funds for rural telephone systems to bring modern telephone service to rural areas. He was pivotal in the creation of NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association, where he served as one of the organization’s earliest Presidents. Mr. Bass continued his leadership with service for more than 50 years as legal counsel, guiding NTCA through many challenges and opportunities.

Recognizing Mr. Bass’s impact to the industry and his passion for the legal profession, the NTCA Board established a scholarship for students entering their first year of law school and who have an interest in rural communities. The first James L. Bass Legal Scholarship will be awarded in Spring 2021 and be at least $5,000.

Learn more about The James L. Bass Legal Scholarship.

Encourage your high school senior to apply.

SCHOLARSHIPS