Bob Krier of Hamilton Telecommunications (left) with Shiloh Smith of Cairo, NE (right)
May 4, 2026, Aurora, Neb. — Hamilton Telecommunications is pleased to announce that Shiloh Smith of Cairo, NE is the recipient of a $2,500 scholarship from the Foundation for Rural Service (FRS), the philanthropic arm of NTCA — The Rural Broadband Association.
This year, the FRS scholarship program awarded $185,000 in scholarships to 60 students from rural communities served by members of NTCA. The FRS Scholarship program awards one-time scholarships to students from across rural America for their first year of college, university or vocational-technical school, and this year expanded opportunities to non-traditional students. To be eligible, recipients must be sponsored by a NTCA member system and must indicate a desire to return to their rural communities once their collegiate studies have been completed.
As an NTCA member, Hamilton Telecommunications sponsored Shiloh and contributed $500 of the $2,500 scholarship. “We are proud to sponsor Shiloh and other local students in our communities for the FRS scholarship program,” said John Nelson, CEO of Hamilton Telecommunications. “We are thrilled that Shiloh was selected for this award and congratulate her on her many successes and achievements. We wish Shiloh much success with her future goals.”
“Every year, I am inspired by the amazing students who apply for an FRS scholarship,” said FRS Executive Director Pam Becker. “The students who received scholarships this year should be proud of their achievements. We had over 1,000 applications for the 60 scholarships we awarded. We are especially proud that the FRS Board took initiative this year to expand our reach by establishing a scholarship dedicated to non-traditional students. Rural communities are filled with hardworking adults who put their education on hold, and it was long overdue that we support a pathway for them, too. Providing opportunities for people at every stage of life has always been at the heart of what we do, and that would not be possible without the generous support of NTCA members and dedicated individuals across the rural broadband industry.”
A full list of scholarship awardees is available online at frs.org.
About Hamilton
Hamilton Telecommunications is a diversified telecommunications and technology services provider based in Aurora, Neb. Founded in 1901, Hamilton Telecommunications encompasses seven primary company divisions that allow Hamilton to operate on a local, regional and national basis.
The Foundation for Rural Service (FRS), the philanthropic arm of NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association and its members, seeks to sustain and enhance the quality of life in rural America by advancing an understanding of rural issues. Through scholarships, grants, and a variety of educational programs, FRS focuses on educating rural youth, encouraging community development and introducing policymakers to challenges unique to rural communities. Visit us at www.frs.org.
NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association is the premier association representing nearly 850 independent, community-based telecommunications companies that are leading innovation in rural and small-town America. In an era of transformative technological advancements, regulatory challenges and marketplace competition, NTCA members are leading the technological evolution for rural consumers, delivering robust and high-quality services over future-proof networks that make rural communities vibrant places in which to live and do business. Because of their efforts, rural America is fertile ground for innovation in economic development, e-commerce, health care, agriculture and education, and it contributes billions of dollars to the U.S. economy each year. Visit us at www.ntca.org.