Youth Corner
At Mid Century, our commitment to our communities begins with our young people.
We have historically been very involved with our youth and schools, from ensuring access to the technology needed today to providing opportunities such as Youth Day, Youth to Washington, D.C. and a College Scholarship Program.
College Scholarship
The Foundation for Rural Service (FRS), in cooperation with the NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association, seeks to sustain and enhance the quality of life in America by advancing an understanding of rural issues. In keeping with its mission, furthering the education of rural youth is one of the foundation’s primary focuses. Our company, Mid Century Telephone Cooperative, is a member of the NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association and is proud to support FRS in this worthy endeavor.
These scholarships are available to students for the student’s first year of college or vocational school. All applicants require sponsorship by an NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association member company to be eligible and must meet the following eligibility requirements.
- Must be a graduating high school senior
- Have at least a C grade point average
- Be accepted by an accredited 2-year or 4-year college, university, or vocational-technical school
- Must live in a household with telephone service provided by Mid Century Telephone Cooperative. These exchanges are Altona (484), Bishop Hill (927), Ellisville (293), Fairview (778), Gilson (876), Lafayette (995), Maquon (875), Marietta (926), Smithfield (783), Summum (759), Table Grove (758), Victoria (879), Williamsfield (639), and Yates City (358).
Mid Century will award up to four $1,000 scholarships. Should a student from our service area be selected as a national FRS winner ($2,000), Mid Century will contribute an additional $1,000 to the scholarship, brining the total one-time scholarship award to $3,000.
The deadline for the 2024 FRS Scholarship was February 16. We are currently awaiting information from the FRS regarding the 2024 scholarship winners.
If you need assistance or have questions about the scholarship program, please contact marketing@midcentury.com.
Youth Day
Mid Century is proud to be part of this annual event held in Springfield, IL. For over 50 years, the electric and telephone cooperatives of Illinois have given tomorrow’s leaders the opportunity to learn from today’s public officials. Each year, nearly 300 outstanding students get an up close and first hand look at democracy in action when they meet their elected representatives during the annual Illinois Electric and Telephone Cooperatives Youth Day Event. Mid Century sponsors up to two (2) students from each area high school serving our members. There is no cost to the student or the school and meals and transportation are provided. At the conclusion of the day, two (2) students from our group are selected to represent Mid Century in Washington, D.C. for the annual “Youth to Washington, D.C. Tour”. Both programs are wonderful educational experiences for our youth.
Youth to Washington, D.C. Tour
Held annually in June, Mid Century sponsors two area students on the “Youth to Washington, D.C. Tour”. This is a week long trip to our nation’s capital full of fun, fellowship, and educational opportunities. Over 1,500 youth from across the nation meet on on this tour to visit historical sites, meet with national legislators, and learn more about the importance of cooperatives. Students are selected from the Youth Day contingency and there is no cost to the student other than mementos and souvenirs. Other students from the group have the option to go on the trip as a “Willie” but need to cover the cost themselves.
The tour is designed to provide an opportunity for outstanding, rural, young people to better understand the value of cooperatives in rural areas. It familiarizes students with the historic and political environment of our nation’s capital through first-hand looks at monuments, government buildings, and cooperative organizations.
The visits with elected officials give the students a better understanding of federal government, the political process, and democracy in general. But perhaps most significantly, the tour gives Mid Century an opportunity to recognize the accomplishments of outstanding young people from rural communities.