Mid-South ITPA Awards Over $20,000 in Scholarships to Support Next Generation of Leaders

The Mid-South Chapter of the Independent Telecommunications Pioneer Association (ITPA) proudly awarded more than $20,000 in scholarships to eleven outstanding students as part of the 2025 Billy D. Young Memorial Scholarship Program.

The scholarships will be presented by Mid-South ITPA President James Conley during the June 2025 Broadband Association of Alabama and Mississippi (BAAM) Summer Symposium in Pensacola Beach, Florida.

The Billy D. Young Memorial Scholarship honors the legacy of Mr. Young, a U.S. Air Force veteran and dedicated telecommunications professional who served communities across Mississippi and Alabama. The scholarship supports the children and grandchildren of employees at BAAM member companies and the ITPA Mid-South Chapter as they pursue higher education.

This year’s recipients were selected based on academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, leadership, and a personal essay. The program is funded by the Mid-South Chapter and supported by local Pioneer Clubs.

2025 Scholarship Recipients

• Ella Grace Dicks – $5,000 (Mon-Cre Telephone Co)

• Kayley Wilkerson – $3,000 (Farmers Telecommunications)

• Ella Turnipseed – $3,000 (Franklin Telephone Co)

• Isaiah Dalton – $1,000 (Farmers Telecommunications)

• Elizabeth Medlen – $1,000 (New Hope Telephone Co-Op)

• Austin Herring – $1,000 (Mon-Cre Telephone Co)

• Lela Mansmann – $1,000 (Mon-Cre Telephone Co)

• Abigail "Abby" Kirk – $1,000 (Franklin Telephone Co)

• Jaxon Westbrook – $1,000 (Franklin Telephone Co)

• Rachel Chmielewski – $1,000 (TEC)

• Trey Vanlandingham – $1,000 (Arriva)
  

The Mid-South Chapter of the ITPA congratulates these outstanding students and their families. We are honored to support their academic journeys and proud of the member companies that make this program possible.