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OpenCape Awards Scholarships
As part of OpenCape’s non-profit mission to make tangible improvements to the economic development and quality of life in our region, the Board of Directors launched an annual OpenCape Corporation Scholarship Program in 2021. In this first year of giving, OpenCape invited students and recent graduates of ten public schools across the Cape to apply for scholarship awards of $1,000 each. Applicants were asked to submit information on intended colleges, interests, academic records and also compose a short essay about how broadband internet, such as that provided by OpenCape’s 100% fiber network, might impact how they study and work in the future.
The Scholarship Program Committee communicated directly with guidance and college counselors at the high schools to shape the application and guide the review process. Important criteria for awarding the scholarships included demonstrable financial need on the part of the student and their family, as well as clarity in educational goals and career aspirations.
We are proud to be able to encourage and assist local students as they pursue their educational goals and career aspirations.
With nearly 30 deserving applications from students at nine Cape Cod high schools, the committee awarded fifteen $1,000 scholarships in June 2021. All of the scholarship recipients were very good students, with plans to attend a variety of colleges and universities, many within the Northeast region, and to pursue a wide range of majors. “It was hard to choose," said OpenCape Board member, Chris Janson. "We were very impressed with all of the student responses."
The schools represented in the scholarship awards include: Barnstable, Bourne, Cape Tech, Dennis-Yarmouth, Falmouth, Mashpee, Nauset, Sandwich and Upper Cape Tech.
Guidance counselors at local schools reported enthusiasm from applicants and confirmed that OpenCape's award amount of $1,000 was very appropriate, and represents the average award amount to high school students in our area.
“As the non-profit technology company which operates a state-of-the-art 100% fiber optic network on Cape Cod, we are proud to be able to encourage and assist local students as they pursue their educational goals and career aspirations," says Janson.