Charlie Richey is the 2026 recipient of the Billy D. Young Scholarship and a graduate of Plainview High School. During high school, Charlie excelled academically through Advanced Placement courses and dual enrollment classes at Northeast Alabama Community College while also staying actively involved in organizations including Beta Club, Peer Helpers, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Future Farmers of America, and the Good Samaritan Club. She served as Class President, was voted Class Favorite, and represented her school as a Homecoming Attendant.

Charlie was also a standout member of the volleyball team, earning the AHSAA Top Ten Libero Award, and volunteered with organizations including the Special Needs Rodeo, Second Chance Shelter, and the Special Olympics.

Charlie plans to attend University of Alabama to pursue a career in nursing. Inspired by personal experiences, she is passionate about helping others through healthcare and hopes to one day give back to her community. As a fourth-generation FTC member, she is grateful to receive the Billy D. Young Scholarship, which will help ease the financial burden of her education.

Ayden is a  graduate of Scottsboro High School and a recipient of the Billy D. Young Scholarship. He  has demonstrated excellence in academics, leadership, athletics, and community service.

Throughout high school, he was active in BETA Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Civitan Club, and Drama Club. His achievements include Honor Roll recognition, induction into the Sigma Kappa Delta Honor Society, a second-place finish at the BETA Club State Competition, and participation in Jackson County Junior Leadership.

Ayden was a  dedicated student-athlete and he competed in varsity football, wrestling, track and field, basketball, and golf, developing leadership, discipline, and teamwork.

He gained valuable work experience at Southern Line, LLC, and completed internships with the Jackson County Circuit and Probate Courts. Outside the classroom, he has faithfully served his church and community through Vacation Bible School, Operation Christmas Child, youth football coaching, food drives, and numerous volunteer outreach efforts.

He plans to attend Northeast Alabama Community College before transferring to Samford University to pursue a law degree. His goal is to become a corporate or real estate attorney, where he hopes to use his leadership, integrity, and dedication to make a positive impact in his profession and community.

Reese McCurdy is a graduate of Fort Payne High School and a proud recipient of this year’s FTC Scholarship. Throughout high school, Reese demonstrated excellence both academically and through her involvement in numerous extracurricular activities and leadership roles. She is a member of the National Honor Society and has received several honors, including the Good Citizen American History Award, 1st Place Tech Team Website Design Award, and 1st Place Tech Team Multimedia Design Award.

Reese was actively involved in many school and community organizations, including Key Club, Future Business Leaders of America, Student Council where she served as Class Vice President, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Science Club, Peer Helpers, and Prom Committee. She also served as Soccer Team Captain and was recognized as a Distinguished Young Women Winner, an Alabama Girls State participant, and a Rotary Youth Leadership Awards participant.

Following graduation, Reese plans to attend University of Alabama at Birmingham to pursue her goal of becoming a naturopathic doctor. She is passionate about health and helping others, and she hopes to use her future career not only to help people heal physically, but also to share her faith and support others wherever they are in life. Reese shared that receiving the FTC Scholarship, along with other scholarships, will help her achieve her educational goals and graduate debt-free.

Kolby Dupree is a current student at University of Alabama and a proud recipient of the 2026 FTC Scholarship. During his time at the university, Kolby has excelled academically, maintaining a GPA above 4.0 and earning recognition on the President’s List.

In addition to his academic achievements, Kolby is actively involved on campus through organizations and leadership opportunities including Camp 1831 as an A-Team Leader, Project Health Advocates, the Women’s Basketball Team Practice Squad, the Pre-Physical Therapy Society, and the Kinesiology Club. He also works at the Crimson Calling Center on campus.

Over the next five years, Kolby plans to earn his Doctorate in Physical Therapy. He is passionate about providing high-quality care to athletes of all levels, especially in rural communities like his hometown of Valley Head. Kolby shared that receiving the FTC Scholarship will help him continue pursuing his educational goals while reducing the financial burden of higher education and minimizing student debt as he works toward earning his doctorate.

Foundation for Rural Service Youth Tour recipients are Taylor Bell from Pisgah High School, and Piercen Cooper Saint from Section High School. They earned a five-day trip to Washington, D.C., where they toured the nation’s capital, learned about legislative and agency processes, and explored the important role of broadband services in rural communities.