Bay Springs, MS (January 24, 2025) – TEC, a leading rural broadband provider, is proud to announce Summer McMullan as the recipient of the prestigious D.L. Fail Memorial Scholarship. This annual scholarship is awarded to two outstanding high school seniors each year.
Summer, a senior at Sylva Bay Academy, is an outstanding and incredibly involved student. She's a proud member of her school’s cheer, track, and softball teams and was even selected for the MAIS All-Star teams in both cheer and softball this year. In addition to her athletic achievements, Summer was elected Homecoming Queen and serves as Vice President of Student Government, her senior class, and the Beta Club. She’s also an officer for Mu Alpha Theta and the Honor Society, all while being an active Quiz Bowl member. Despite her packed schedule, Summer still finds time to enjoy life—she loves reading, spending time outdoors, and hanging out with friends.
Next up, Summer plans to attend Jones College to pursue her bachelor’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, with her sights set on either Pharmacy School or Medical School in the future. Her essay on how fast fiber internet benefits rural communities reflected her personal experiences and insight, leaving a lasting impression on the scholarship committee.
TEC congratulates Summer on her achievements and looks forward to seeing all she will accomplish in the future.
Summer's essay is featured below.
ABOUT THE SCHOLARSHIP
The scholarship’s purpose is to encourage young citizens to pursue higher education, establish life goals, and use their success to serve their community. We also hope to make young adults more aware of the positive attributes of their communities and the benefits of returning to their hometowns after college. Two scholarships, totaling $5,000 in tuition monies, are awarded annually in conjunction with MACS, the Mississippi Affordable College Savings Program to two high school students in TEC’s Mississippi residential service area. The winning submission will receive $3,000, and the 2nd place submission will receive $2,000. Both scholarships can be used to pay tuition and related expenses at any college or university of the student’s choice.
ABOUT TEC
TEC provides economic stability to its local service areas, employing more than 200 people across Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Louisiana. TEC has invested in and maintains approximately 4,600 miles of fiber in its rural markets. For over a century, TEC has been a forerunner in providing telecommunications services to rural America and was the first to bring internet options to many rural markets more than 20 years ago. For more information, visit www.TEC.com or find us on social media under the handle, @TECconnects.