Mid-Rivers Communications is offering scholarships for Eastern and Central Montana students for the 2027-2028 School Year. Funded by unclaimed capital credits from patrons, the Mid-Rivers Fund for Education has awarded over $1 million to area students in the past. In 2027, Mid-Rivers will award 36 competitive and additional drawing scholarships to be awarded at the Annual meeting.

Scholarship categories reflect the mission and values of the Cooperative and its patrons. This year’s scholarship funds will be awarded in the following categories:

• Dawson Community College/Miles Community College Scholarship – In support of local educational institutions, up to six (6) $3,500 scholarships will be awarded to students attending Dawson Community College (DCC) or Miles Community College (MCC).
• Mid-Rivers Higher Education Scholarship – Thirty (30) $3,000 scholarships will be awarded to students pursuing or continuing their higher education at any other institution in trade, technical, undergraduate, or graduate programs (including those enrolled in certificate programs, undergraduate associate or bachelor’s degree programs, and graduate and other post-undergraduate students).
• Mid-Rivers Annual Meeting Drawing – Scholarships will be awarded through a drawing of eligible students in attendance at the 2027 Mid-Rivers Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting will be held in Glendive with additional details to be announced in early 2027.

Mid-Rivers is currently accepting applications for the competitive scholarship categories. Competitive Scholarships will be awarded based on how well each student's written online application addresses the following priority areas:

• Demonstration of specific plans and an authentic desire to live and work in the Mid-Rivers Service Area in the future, including the pursuit of fields currently in demand in the Mid-Rivers service area or fields that fulfill current or future Cooperative workforce needs.
• Work experience and school and community activities during high school and/or college.
• Unique, inspiring, and innovative Personal Statement.
• Grade point average and ACT/SAT test scores.
• Ability to communicate.

Eligible applicants for all categories include graduating high school seniors entering freshman year at a college, university, trade or technical school; and current college, university, trade and technical school students planning to continue studies in the fall. Applicants must be enrolled for the Fall of 2027 in a certificate program, undergraduate associate or bachelor’s degree program, or a graduate or other post-undergraduate program. Previous Mid-Rivers scholarship winners (competitive or drawing, and in any year) are ineligible. Applicants must have a parent or guardian with active telephone or Internet service from Mid-Rivers Communications.

Competitive applications must be completed online and are available at the link below. Qualified applicants who are unsuccessful in the competitive scholarships are eligible and encouraged to enter the drawing for scholarships at the Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting will be held in Glendive with additional details to be announced in early 2027.

The completed form(s) and all required attachments must be submitted online by Monday, February 1, 2027, at 11:59 PM Mountain Time. Only complete applications will be considered.

As a member of the Foundation for Rural Service (FRS), Mid-Rivers offers area students the opportunity to submit applications for a variety of scholarships through the FRS. These applications are managed and reviewed through the FRS. Applications are available through Kaleidoscope, a scholarship-hosting platform. Students whose parent(s)/guardian(s) are customers of Mid-Rivers Communications will need to indicate Mid-Rivers Telephone Cooperative, Inc. as their member company. Students only need to submit one application to be considered for all available scholarships for which they are eligible. The deadline for applications is February 15, 2027.

For a full overview of eligibility requirements, available scholarships and to access the application, please visit the FRS Scholarships webpage at https://www.frs.org/programs/youth-programs/scholarships