Scholarships

Pioneer Communications provides annual scholarships in memoriam of former General Manager Joseph B. Chilen and former Board President Earl B. Williams. Individual scholarships of up to $2,000 will be awarded to students from each school in our service area.

Open to: 2026 graduating high school seniors

Application Deadline: March 22, 2026

Please note- IMPORTANT: Student’s parent or guardian must be a Pioneer Communications telephone, StreamTV or internet customer. Children of Pioneer Communications’ employees are not eligible for this scholarship.

If you have any other questions or need more information please contact:
Sheri King / Pioneer Communications
Tel: 620-356-7104
E-mail: [email protected]

Memorial Scholarship Application

Joseph B. Chilen & Earl B. Williams Memorial Scholarship Application

Applicant Name(Required)

First Last

Applicant Address(Required)

Street Address City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code

Student Email Address(Required)

Student Phone #(Required)

Names of Parent(s) or Guardian(s) of applicant(Required)

Parent(s) or Guardian(s) place of employment(Required)

Does your household currently have an active account with Pioneer Communications for internet, telephone or streaming television?(Required)

Names and Ages of Siblings

Are any of your siblings currently attending college? If yes, provide sibling name and institution attending.

Name of Institution planning to attend(Required)

Major Field of Study (if Known)

Please attach a resume outlining activities, accomplishments, honors, & employment experience(Required)

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, Max. file size: 50 MB.

Write a short paragraph describing your future plans(Required)

Upload a copy of your high school transcript(Required)

Accepted file types: jpg, gif, png, pdf, doc, docx, Max. file size: 50 MB.

Open to a high school student that is 15,16 or 17 years of age at the time of the tour. If applicant turns 18 during the tour dates, they are ineligible for the Youth Tour. Student must live in a household receiving any of the following Pioneer Communications services: Telephone, StreamTV, or Internet.

Online Application Deadline: March 8, 2026

Focus of the Youth Tour:

Offers rural students an inside look at the telecommunications industry.
Educates students about the legislative and governmental process.
Gives students the opportunity to experience the nation’s capital.
Allows students to meet other youth from rural communities across the country and to form friendships that last a lifetime.

Click here for a short video about the FRS Youth Tour.

Flyer about the 2026 FRS Youth Tour.

For more information please contact:

Sheri King / Pioneer Communications
Tel: 620-356-7104
E-mail: [email protected]

Note: Local high schools in the Pioneer Communications service areas also have information available for the above scholarship programs. Feel free talk to your high school counselor for more information.

FRS Youth Tour to Washington DC

IMPORTANT: Read instructions carefully. All information on this application will be treated confidentially. Personal Data and Eligibility Requirements must be filled out by applicant only. Deadline for application is March 1, 2024.

STUDENT APPLICATION

Student Name:(Required)

First Last

Student Address(Required)

Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code

How long have you lived at this address?(Required)

Student Phone:(Required)

Student Email:(Required)

PIONEER COMMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVE MEMBER PARENT OR GUARDIAN INFORMATION

Parent or Guardian's Name:(Required)

First Last

Parent or Guardian's Address:(Required)

Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code

Parent or Guardian's Email:

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY PLEASE NOTIFY

Name:(Required)

First Last

Address:(Required)

Street Address City State ZIP Code

Phone:(Required)

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

High School presently attending:(Required)

High School Address:(Required)

Street Address City State ZIP Code

Current High School Grade Level:(Required)

Current Age:(Required)

15

16

17

Birthdate(Required)

PLEASE NOTE: Applicant must be 15-17 years of age at the time of the tour, June 1-5, 2026. If applicant turns 18 during the tour dates, they are ineligible for the Youth Tour.

High School Grade Point Average:(Required)

PIONEER COMMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

Pioneer will pay registration fee. – This covers; lodging, three (3) meals a day, transportation to all activities, admission to events, special entertainment, airport greeting/transportation, gratuities, a youth tour t-shirt and a student yearbook. Pioneer will coordinate travel arrangements, incur the cost for airfare, plus include $150.00 of spending money. Please note: No chaperone will be provided. Youth Tour participant will be required to furnish their own transportation to and from the Garden City airport on departure and returning date.

PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS

Submit 2 Letters of Recommendation:(Required)

Drop files here or

Max. file size: 50 MB.

Applicants are required to include two (2) letters of recommendation from school staff or community members supporting their performance and achievements in school and community projects.

Submit 500 word Essay:(Required)

Max. file size: 50 MB.

Applicants are required to write a 500 word essay on the following topic. Explain how technology plays a role in your everyday life. Include details about how access to technology has affected your choices in furthering your education or led you to a specific career path.

Submit Applicant Resume:(Required)

Max. file size: 50 MB.

Each Applicant shall submit an Applicant Resume. It shall be a list showing the applicant’s participation in high school and community activities, including years of participation (i.e., band-2 years; FFA-4 years, etc). Category examples may include: Awards/Honors; Offices/Leadership Roles; Clubs/Organizations; Athletics; Other School Activities; Community/Church/Civic Involvement/Volunteerism; Work Experience.

FRS annually awards scholarships to rural students for their first year of 2-year or 4-year college, or vocational school. All applicants require sponsorship by Pioneer Communications to be eligible.

The value of the scholarships ranges from $500-$9,000, based on a variety of criteria. One application qualifies a student for all available FRS scholarships.

Sponsors: Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) and Pioneer Communications

Application details can be found HERE.

Application Submission:
The FRS Scholarship application must be completed online –Click here to SUBMIT

Application Deadline: February 14, 2026

For more information please contact:

Sheri King / Pioneer Communications
Tel: 620-356-7104
E-mail: [email protected]

Proud to provide over

$20,000 to high school

students in SWKS!

Memorial Scholarship Application

FRS Youth Tour to Washington DC

STUDENT APPLICATION

PIONEER COMMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVE MEMBER PARENT OR GUARDIAN INFORMATION

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY PLEASE NOTIFY

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

PIONEER COMMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS

SCHOLARSHIPS

Proud to provide over

$20,000 to high school

students in SWKS!

Memorial Scholarship Application

FRS Youth Tour to Washington DC

STUDENT APPLICATION

PIONEER COMMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVE MEMBER PARENT OR GUARDIAN INFORMATION

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY PLEASE NOTIFY

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

PIONEER COMMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS

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