Category: Scholarships

Brewing Community in Gowrie 

Small businesses are at the heart of rural communities. They provide more than products and services, they create gathering places, support local economies, and help give small towns their unique character. That was part of the vision behind 1108 Coffee and Boutique. Abbie Collins, started the business in spring of 2025, with the goal of bringing people together over specialty drinks while creating a fun, trendy shopping destination for the community. But behind the coffee, shopping, and friendly conversations is a small business that relies on technology to keep things moving.

Reliable Internet Helps Small Businesses Thrive

Like many modern small businesses, 1108 Coffee and Boutique depends on a reliable Internet connection throughout the day to properly serve customers. From fulfilling customer orders online and in person, managing an online presence, keeping up-to-date inventory, and operating a point-of-sales system, reliable technology and connectivity are essential to keep the business running smoothly.

“I use the Internet all day to operate my point-of-sales system, so I need a strong connection,” Abbie explains.

Webster-Calhoun is proud to help Abbie’s business connect to quality, reliable Internet so she can focus on her day-to-day operations. Small businesses are at the heart of the communities we serve, and supporting them means more than providing a reliable Internet connection. It means getting to know the people behind the businesses, understanding what they need, and being there when technology doesn’t go as planned. Working side by side with people that Abbie can call her neighbors, makes a difference.

“It makes us a strong community. It’s easy to talk to a friendly, familiar face when needing help or someone to answer a question,” according to Abbie. 

For a small business owner, technology needs to work in the background so the focus can remain where it belongs, on the customer. When a question or issue does come up, Abbie appreciates having someone local to turn if she has questions or if an issue pops up.

“Everyone at Webster-Calhoun is always welcoming and happy to help you with a smile! When questions or issues do pop-up, I know that I can reach out and not only talk to a real person that’s happy to help, but I can get feedback quickly,”  Abbie says.

Today, there are growing options for people to get Internet service elsewhere, but for Abbie it was easy for her to stay local and choose Webster-Calhoun as her partner.

“I have had Webster-Calhoun Internet at home for a few years now. So when opening my business, I knew that I wanted to go with them because they are reliable and trustworthy,” said Abbie.  

Building Community, One Customer at a Time

1108 Coffee and Boutique is a great example of what makes rural small businesses special. Abbie didn’t simply open a coffee shop and boutique; she created a place designed to bring people together.  Every cup of coffee, every shopping trip, and every conversation contributes to the character of the community. And behind it all is a small-business owner who understands that staying connected is about more than Internet service. It’s about staying connected to the customers, neighbors, and community that make the business possible. At 1108 Coffee and Boutique, that’s exactly what Abbie is doing, creating a place where Gowrie can connect, one cup at a time.

Want to learn more? 1108 Coffee and Boutique is located at 1108 Market Street in Gowrie, Iowa. Follow 1108 Coffee and Boutique on Facebook. 

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Webster-Calhoun Cooperative Telephone Association provides Landline Telephone, Digital TV and Internet service to 21 rural communities on a Fiber driven network just outside the Fort Dodge, Iowa area: Pilot Mound, Boxholm, Lanyon, Paton, Churdan, Farnhamville, Gowrie, Somers, Moorland, Knierim, Barnum, Clare, Thor, Badger, Vincent, Duncombe, in the towns of Lohrville, Manson, Rockwell City and Lake City and rural Fort Dodge. www.wccta.com

WCCTA is Gigabit Certified and designated a Smart Rural Community by NTCA: the Rural Broadband Association.

Rooted in Community. Ready for Tomorrow.

Programs with Iowa’s Independent Telecommunications Companies support rural students pursuing technology and STEM education

Aureon, a trusted provider of Webster-Calhoun Cooperative Telephone Association for connectivity and network solutions, recently awarded $12,000 in STEM scholarships to nine Iowa high school students through its 2026 Scholarship Programs, supporting their pursuit of technology and STEM education at Iowa colleges, universities and trade schools.

Through annual scholarships, Aureon continues to invest in Iowa’s next generation of leaders by supporting students through two dedicated opportunities: the Aureon ITC Scholarship Program, which supports students from Iowa Independent Telecommunications Company (ITC)-served communities pursuing STEM-related fields, and the Aureon Scholarship for Technology Students, which assists students planning to pursue technology-focused education at Iowa colleges, universities, or trade schools.

“We are excited about this scholarship award for Tyler. Iowa is unique—our state has more independent, community-based internet providers than any other state in the nation,” noted Marcie Boerner, CEO/GM of Webster-Calhoun Cooperative Telephone Association, “which makes this award truly special.”

The recipients of the 2026 Aureon ITC Scholarship Program are:

• Christopher Gebhardt, Guttenberg – $3,000 scholarship, attending Iowa State University (Computer Engineering)
• Kayley Dirks, Atkins – $2,000 scholarship, attending Iowa State University (Business Analytics)
• Micah Loutsch, Le Mars – $2,000 scholarship, attending Northwestern College (Cybersecurity)
• Tyler Wanat, Gowrie – $1,000 scholarship, attending Iowa Central Community College (Accounting)
• Miley Trumm, Cascade – $1,000 scholarship, attending the University of Northern Iowa (Business Analytics & Marketing)
• Aiden Cooper, Cantril – $1,000 scholarship, attending Indian Hills Community College (Software Development)

The recipients of the 2026 Aureon Scholarship for Technology Students are:

• Mason Carver, Marcus – $1,000 scholarship, attending DMACC (Electric Utility Technology)
• Cameron Renes, Des Moines – $500 scholarship, attending Central College (Computer Science)
• Summer Minor, Indianola – $500 scholarship, attending Simpson College (Computer Science Information Systems)

“Every year, we see Iowa students whose talent and drive will power the state’s technology future,” said George O’Neal, CEO of Aureon. “By investing in their STEM education today, we’re strengthening the communities and businesses we serve across Iowa.”

Applications for Aureon’s next scholarship cycle will open in December, continuing the company’s long-standing commitment to supporting Iowa students pursuing STEM and technology education pathways. Since launching its scholarship efforts, Aureon has remained dedicated to strengthening Iowa communities by helping students access educational opportunities that prepare them for future success.

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Aureon is a leading technology solutions provider helping organizations connect, collaborate, and grow. The company delivers connectivity, cloud, data center, managed IT, consulting, and contact center services that simplify technology and strengthen business performance. Backed by more than 40 years of experience and a dedicated Iowa-based support team, Aureon combines advanced solutions with exceptional service. From its headquarters in West Des Moines, the company empowers clients across the Midwest and nationwide through reliability, innovation, and a lasting commitment to community.

Webster-Calhoun Cooperative Telephone Association provides Landline Telephone, Digital TV and Internet service to 21 rural communities on a Fiber driven network just outside the Fort Dodge, Iowa area: Pilot Mound, Boxholm, Lanyon, Paton, Churdan, Farnhamville, Gowrie, Somers, Moorland, Knierim, Barnum, Clare, Thor, Badger, Vincent, Duncombe, in the towns of Lohrville, Manson, Rockwell City and Lake City and rural Fort Dodge. www.wccta.com

WCCTA is Gigabit Certified and designated a Smart Rural Community by NTCA: the Rural Broadband Association.

Rooted in Community. Ready for Tomorrow.

#fiberdelivers #gogowrie #Ruraliscool #weinwebster

The Iowa Communications Alliance (ICA) firmly believes that the Internet is a powerful tool that helps Iowa grow and thrive. The state-based industry association serves as an advocate, catalyst, educator, and resource for Iowa’s community-based broadband providers, like Webster-Calhoun, working to build a more connected, empowered, and prosperous future for all Iowans.

“Iowa is unique—our state has more independent, community-based internet providers than any other state in the nation,” states Marcie Boerner, CEO/GM, Webster-Calhoun Cooperative Telephone Association, “which makes this award truly special.”

Webster-Calhoun is one of 120 ICA member companies across Iowa, and these local providers do more than deliver service—they invest in communities and in students who represent the future of rural Iowa.

The mission of the ICA scholarship is to assist students from rural areas across Iowa with financial support as they pursue higher education—and to encourage them to bring their talents back to rural Iowa after graduation. Scholarship applicants are students who have a parent, grandparent, or guardian employed by an ICA member broadband provider. Each year, the ICA Scholarship Committee selects two students to receive a $2,500 scholarship for the upcoming school year.

Drew Dorsey and Addison English are the 2026 ICA Scholarship recipients. Drew Dorsey is a senior at Southeast Valley High School in Gowrie. Drew plans to attend Iowa Central Community College this fall to study Electrical Technologies. His dad, AJ, is a technician at Webster-Calhoun Cooperative Telephone Association. Addison English recently completed her first year at Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, IA.  She is in the Nursing program there, working on her BSN.  Addison’s mom, Sara, is the Human Resource Manager at KCTC in Kalona.

Boerner recognized Dorsey at the recent Southeast Valley senior awards night prior to graduation. “Drew’s goals reflect the same hands-on skill, problem-solving, and community-minded spirit that keeps rural Iowa strong.  It is my absolute honor to present him with the Iowa Communications Alliance Scholarship in the amount of $2,500 to support his education during the 2026–2027 school year.”

Iowa Communication Alliance (ICA)

The Iowa Communications Alliance is the nation’s largest state-based association of community-based broadband providers. Its 250+ members provide and enable high-quality, state-of-the-art communications services to Iowans, leading the state to be among the nation’s leaders in fiber-optic deployment.

You can learn more about the Iowa Communication Alliance on their website.

Webster-Calhoun

Rooted in Community. Ready for Tomorrow.