Foundation for Rural Service Awards Scholarships in Honor of Tim Owens, Ron Laudner and Shirley Bloomfield

The Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) today announced it has awarded two new scholarships named in honor of individuals whose careers and dedication helped shape the rural broadband industry. The Tim Owens-Ron Laudner Scholarship and the Shirley Bloomfield Scholarship for Women's Advancement will each be awarded annually to students from rural communities served by members of NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association.

The Tim Owens-Ron Laudner Scholarship
This scholarship honors Tim Owens and Ron Laudner, Jr., two men who were great friends and dedicated champions of FRS. Owens served as the first FRS Executive Director and was passionate about the arts, serving on the Washington Ballet Board of Directors and as a violinist in the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra. Laudner served on the FRS, NTCA and OPASTCO boards over his 40-year career and received the FRS Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his commitment to the Foundation's mission.

Made possible by the Tim Owens-Ron Laudner Memorial Fund, the $5,000 annual scholarship supports students who intend to study fine arts or music. The inaugural recipient is Emma Petersilie of Ness City, Kansas, who lives in the service area of Golden Belt Telephone Association, Inc. (Rush Center, Kan.). Petersilie plans to attend Garden City Community College to study music and eventually become a music educator

"Tim and Ron believed deeply in the power of connection, service, opportunity and the value of the arts, and this fund ensures their impact will live on by supporting the next generation who share those same values," said Kurt Gruendling, former FRS board chair and vice president of marketing and business development for Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom (Waitsfield, Vt.). "We are deeply grateful to everyone who has contributed to the fund and participated in fundraisers to help make this possible."

The Shirley Bloomfield Scholarship for Women's Advancement
This scholarship honors Shirley Bloomfield, whose 36 years of service to NTCA left a lasting mark on the rural broadband industry and the people who work in it. Bloomfield served as CEO from 2010 until her retirement in early 2026, championing rural broadband access and investing in the next generation of broadband leaders throughout her tenure.

The Shirley Bloomfield Scholarship for Women's Advancement, endowed through the Shirley Bloomfield Fund for Women's Advancement and sponsored by the NTCA Women in Telecom program, awards $5,000 annually to a woman who is a recent high school graduate, a non-traditional student returning to school after or while working, or a current student seeking to complete her degree. Rachel Bowman of Asheboro, North Carolina, who is employed by Randolph Communications (Asheboro, N.C.), is the inaugural recipient and plans to attend Liberty University to receive a degree in accounting.

"The Women in Telecom program seeks to create opportunity and visibility for women working in rural broadband," said Kristi Westbrock, CEO and general manager of CTC (Brainerd, Minn.) and chair of the NTCA Women in Telecom Advisory Council. "Honoring Shirley's impact through this scholarship is fitting because she embodies everything we stand for. Now, Shirley's name will be connected to women in our industry, like Rachel, who are furthering their education so they can continue to build their future."

A full list of 2026 FRS scholarship awardees and the NTCA member companies partnering with FRS to make the funding possible is available online.

Fundraising for the Owens-Laudner Memorial Fund and Shirley Bloomfield Fund for Women's Advancement continues and contributions are encouraged at frs.org/donate.