2019 Scholarship Opportunities from Paul Bunyan Communications
Paul Bunyan Communications is committed to the communities we serve and provides over $40,000 annually in scholarships to local students within our service territory. We also offer local students the chance to apply for one statewide industry scholarship and one national industry scholarship. If you are a current high school senior or a student at one of the local post-secondary institutions, you can apply to win a Paul Bunyan Communications Scholarship!
High School Scholarships
Each year, our cooperative provides at least 2, $500 scholarships to 12 area high schools within or near our service territory. The application process, winners, and distribution of funds are handled by each high school independent of Paul Bunyan Communications.
Paul Bunyan Communications Scholarships are available at Bemidji High School, Bigfork High School, Blackduck High School, Cass Lake High School, Deer River High School, Grand Rapids High School, Kelliher High School, Laporte High School, Northome High School, Park Rapids High School, Red Lake High School, and Walker-Hackensack-Akeley High School
To apply for the Paul Bunyan Communications Scholarship at one of these high schools, please speak to the high school counselor or career service office.
Post-Secondary Scholarships
In addition to High School Scholarships, Paul Bunyan Communications provides scholarship opportunities to the following post secondary institutions: Bemidji State University, Northwest Technical College, Itasca Community College, Red Lake Nation College, Leech Lake Tribal College, and Oak Hills Christian College.
There are several scholarships totaling over $20,000 annually available to students attending Bemidji State University that are current members of Paul Bunyan Communications or a parent/legal guardian is a member. Applications are available in the BSU Admissions Office. Deadline for applications is February 1, 2019.
One $500 scholarship is awarded annually to a NTC student that is a current member or who has a parent/legal guardian that is a member of Paul Bunyan Communications. Applications are available in the NTC Admissions office or online at www.NTCmn.edu under scholarships. Deadline for applications is March 31, 2019.
One $500 scholarship is awarded annually at Itasca Community College, Red Lake Nation College, Leech Lake Tribal College and Oak Hills Christian College to a student that is a current member or who has a parent/legal guardian that is a member of Paul Bunyan Communications.
To apply for the Paul Bunyan Communications Scholarship at one of these post-secondary institutions, speak to the Admissions or Career Service office at the school you attend.
Minnesota Telecom Alliance Foundation Scholarship
Paul Bunyan Communications participates in the MTA’s scholarship program which awards five $2,000 scholarships to Minnesota high school seniors each year.
The application for 2019 can be downloaded at https://www.mnta.org/ and must be turned in to Paul Bunyan Communications no later than March 1, 2019.
A telecom alliance panel reviews each application and selects the finalists based on applicants’ grades, academic achievements and extra-curricular activities. Preference to receive the scholarships is given to students who have an interest in telecommunications technology and rural communities.
The Foundation is part of the Minnesota Telecom Alliance, a trade organization representing 86 telephone companies and cooperatives in the state.
Foundation for Rural Service Scholarship
Paul Bunyan Communications participates in the Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) scholarship program which awards 30 $2,500 scholarships to high school seniors throughout the country each year.
Applications can also be downloaded from the FRS web site at https://www.frs.org/programs/youth-programs/scholarships
Completed applications should be sent directly to FRS, postmarked no later than March 1, 2019. Applications postmarked to FRS after this date will NOT be accepted.
Please note the applicant or their parent/legal guardian must be a member of Paul Bunyan Communications (PBC) Cooperative to apply through PBC and that a signature of a PBC employee is required to be considered eligible.
Established in 1994, FRS, in cooperation with the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA), seeks to sustain and enhance the quality of life throughout Rural America by advancing an understanding of rural telecommunications issues. In keeping with its mission, furthering the education of rural youth is one of the foundation’s primary focuses. Our cooperative, Paul Bunyan Communications, is a member of NTCA and is proud to support FRS in this worthy endeavor.
Area High School Students age 16 or 17 are encouraged to enter the Paul Bunyan Communications Essay Contest for a chance to attend the 2019 Youth Tour in Washington, D.C. June 1-5, with all expenses paid by Paul Bunyan Communications.
Paul Bunyan Communications is excited to announce the winners of the 4th Annual Pick-it Bowl Challenge, a free online contest for participants to pick the winners for the 2018-19 College Bowl games for a chance to win a credit on a Paul Bunyan Communications account.
The Minnesota Twins 59th Annual Winter Caravan, sponsored in part by Paul Bunyan Communications, is coming to Bemidji on Wednesday, January 23 at the Bemidji Eagles Club!
The Minnesota Wild, Fox Sports North, and Wells Fargo are bringing Hockey Day Minnesota to Bemidji January 17-19 with local title sponsor Sanford Health and sponsored in part by Paul Bunyan Communications! It’s three days celebrating the state of hockey, outdoors, Bemidji style.
Below are our office closures for the holidays. As always, emergency after hours repair will remain available at 1-800-475-8309.
The Paul Bunyan Communications offices will be closed Thursday, November 22 for Thanksgiving. Our regular office hours resume, Friday, November 23.
The annual Paul Bunyan Communications Holiday Open House is Friday, December 7 from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. Stop in to either of our offices in Bemidji or Grand Rapids!
Congratulations to the Park Rapids High School Volleyball team on advancing to the Class AA State Volleyball Tournament! The Panthers take on Marshall High School in the Quarterfinals at 7 p.m. Thursday night at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul and you can watch it online for free at