Scholarship

AT SMTC, we recognize the importance of the young people in our community and our scholarship program was developed to support local students pursuing higher learning to help these individuals achieve their full potential. Since 2011, SMTC has awarded $34,000 in scholarships to 68 students.

Each year SMTC awards several $500 scholarships to local students who are intending to enter or have already entered a two-year or four-year college, including vocational and technical schools.

Applicants must be a graduate of a high school whose district falls within our service area or have met their appropriate school’s graduation requirements. Applicants must also be students whose parents/guardians currently subscribe to Stratford Communications’ services and/or have a direct connection to the company(such as a parent being employed by Stratford Communications). Following graduation, the Applicant must intend to enter a two-year or four-year college including vocational and technical schools.

The SMTC Board of Directors will have the final say in determining which applicants will be awarded scholarships.

Scholarship recipients will be presented with a certificate and a check that will be payable to the college of their choice. Recipient(s) and parents may be asked to sign a release to publish their photo and essay in local news outlets.

Application Information

The application deadline for students in the senior class is April 15th. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
The application form can be downloaded here.
In addition to the application, students are required to submit a typed essay of at least 600 words on the following topic: The effect of Communications Technology on society’s past, present and future. Applications submitted without essays are incomplete and will not be considered.
Applications should be returned to:

Darcy Runestad, Marketing Director
Stratford Mutual Telephone Co.
1001 Tennyson Ave.
PO Box 438
Stratford, IA 50249

via email: drunestad@stratfordtelephone.com

Other Scholarship Opportunities for Our Subscribers

Iowa Communications Alliance Scholarship – Application deadline is March 2, 2026

https://www.iacommunicationsall.org/ica-scholarship-programs

Aureon Scholarship Program – Application deadline is March 1, 2026

Aureon.com/Scholarship

Foundation for Rural Service Scholarship - Application deadline is February 14, 2026

https://www.frs.org/programs/youth-programs/scholarships

Congratulations to Our Past Scholarship Winners!

2011: Taylor Johnson, Alisha Carlson, Kelsey Westrum and Bailey Bergman
2012: Brandon Carlson and Lissandra Villa Huerta
2013: Coyce Carlson, Sidney Smith, Bradon Bergman, Quinten Westrum and Allissa Runyon
2014: Madison Haman, Brandon Patten, Katelin Pruismann, and Dylan Rose
2015: Brittany Carlson, Allyson Ervin, Kelsey Flockhart, Jerald Fritz, and Lena Gripp
2016: Ryan Ferrari, Avery Haman, Christopher Anderson, and Ashley Flaws
2017: Janson Bergman, Cayson Carlson, Jessica Carlson, Isaac Patterson, and Makenzie Rose
2018: Anna Ervin, Haley Flaws, Katie Greenfield, and Kriston Grisham
2019: Hunter Collicot, Ben Heeren, John Piaszynski, Shannon Smith, and Zoey Woodle
2020: Kasey Porter
2021: Emma Collicott, Hannah Cree, Taylor Hayden, Heath Patterson, Katie Piazynski, Gracie Smith
2022: Ty Heeren, Tucker Murray, Aurora Weidemann, Kayley Wibholm
2023: Carly Appel, Connor Hansen, Rachel Jensen, Amanda Ostrem, Skyla Philipsen, Jaden Wibholm
2024: Emilia Broich, Grace Dowling, Kathryn Limas, Morgan Paulson, Josh Webb
2025: Kathryne Arthur, Rachel Frank, Peyton Jeter, Alyssa Jones, Emily Mosier, Nicole Mosier, Karina Murray, Dominik Vargas