United & Turtle Mountain Communications Celebrate the 2026 Scholarship Winners
Strong communities are built on a foundation of education, hard work, and support. At United & Turtle Mountain Communications, we believe in giving back to the communities that make North Dakota such a wonderful place to live and work. That is why we are thrilled to announce the 2026 recipients of the United Telephone Education Foundation scholarships.
This year, we awarded a total of $62,000 in scholarships to 42 exceptional graduating high school seniors across our service area. Since the program began in 1991, the foundation has proudly contributed an incredible milestone of $1,011,000 to help local students pursue higher education.
Empowering the Next Generation
Selecting this year’s winners was no easy task. The scholarship committee carefully reviewed a highly competitive pool of applicants. Our 42 final recipients were chosen based on their outstanding academic achievements, active involvement in extracurricular activities, proven leadership experience, and financial need. These students truly embody the resilience and dedication that help our region thrive.
“Supporting local students through scholarships is one of the most meaningful ways we can invest in the future of our communities,” said Steve Swanson, General Manager & CEO of United Communications. “These students have worked hard to reach this milestone, and we’re honored to help them take the next step toward their educational and career goals.”
Meet Our 2026 Scholarship Winners
We proudly congratulate the following 2026 scholarship recipients. Join us in celebrating their incredible accomplishments as they take their next steps toward building successful futures:
Bottineau High School
Cooper Beckman
Rowan Cheshire
Ashlyn Follman
Kendra Knoke
Dunseith High School
Nyomie Belgarde
Aubreauna Faine
Kacey Gladue
Meadow Lunday
Langdon Area High School
Nora Lorenz
Sophia Nuelle
Raleigh Ratzlaff
McKenzie Regner
Levi Swanson
Mount Pleasant High School
Julius Elick
Samantha Lagein
Payne Wilkie
Munich Public School
Max Brown
Tanner McDonald
North Border High School
Grace Follin
Jacy Fraser
Jaelyn Johnson
North Star High School
Ashley Nikolaisen
TGU Towner High School
Jorja Smith
Rolette Public School
Elizabeth Lewis
Ella Pederson
St. John High School
Sophia Allery
EmmaLee Azure
Abigail Delorme
Stirling Gable
Kadence Jerome
Christian Poitra
Kaden Preston
Lane Zupan
Turtle Mountain Community High School
Akealyes Azure
Stacy Azure
Tiana Davis
Joshua Falcon
Kenley Hamley
Aubree Jeanotte
Ashlin LaRocque
Harris Reid
Hallie Trottier
Looking Ahead to 2027
If you have a student who will be a high school senior next year, we encourage them to apply for our next round of awards. Applications for the 2027 scholarship program will open in March 2027. To find out more about eligibility requirements, complete the application process, or explore how we can support your educational journey, please visit our Scholarship page.
About United & Turtle Mountain Communications
United & Turtle Mountain Communications is dedicated to keeping our communities strong and connected. Since 1952, we have proudly served North Dakota by providing the dependable high-speed internet, phone, television, and security camera services essential to making your house a home and helping local businesses thrive. We have all the reliable services you need to stay entertained and connected to who and what you love, all backed by the support of our friendly, local team.
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