Connecting the World:
Introduction to the Broadband Services Industry Mini-Conference for Students
Learn about the industry that connects the world through a multitude of devices--computers, televisions, gaming, cell phones, and more! Excellent opportunities with great pay and benefits await.
In this free mini-conference concurrent with our Annual Conference and Vendor Showcase, select students from schools in our member company territories have the opportunity to learn from some of our best industry instructors in broadband technology and fiber optics training and try some hands-on work. Students will gain insight into the companies that connect their devices to the world and the work behind it in consideration of their career goals. TT&S is working to make this a fun educational opportunity for students, including the chance to visit with our employees in attendance at our annual conference and the vendors in our vendor showcase.
Students must be pre-registered to attend. See registration details below.
Teachers/parents/career counselors, click here to download the 2025 PDF event flyer for your students.
Event Location:
The sessions for the event will take place in the Dakota Ballroom at the Bismarck Hotel and Conference Center located at 800 South 3rd Street in Bismarck, North Dakota. Students are welcome to join our regular conference attendees and vendors at the luncheon in the Courtyard across the hall from the Dakota Ballroom.
Student tours will be offered at the end of the day of the facilities at Dakota Carrier Network "North Dakota's premiere partner for secure, reliable, high-speed technology solutions." Dakota Carrier Network is located at 4202 Coleman Street in Bismarck, North Dakota.
Event Schedule:
February 19, 2025
After DCN tours, dismissed to head home
NOTE: TT&S is working with several hands-on fiber trainers to set up multiple stations for students and will update the schedule as we confirm their participation.
Registration:
- Attendance is limited. Not every student who applies will be accepted. Registration ultimately comes through TT&S. The maximum number of students from around the state is limited to 20-25 total. We cannot accommodate any more than that for the educational experience we provide for the students.
- Attendance is free. TT&S does not charge students to attend this educational event.
- The selection process varies depending on the location of the student.
- Students, please see your school's career counselor as a starting point if you are interested in attending. Everything about the event will be provided to them or is available on this page.
- Career counselors / school officials / homeschool parents, please contact TT&S with questions. We will direct you to the individual at the broadband company in your community who will be selecting students. (See map below)
- For students in areas not provided sponsorships by our members, TT&S will work with schools or homeschool parents in those areas directly. School staff or homeschool parents, please submit our online Student Referral Application form by December 20, 2024. Selections through this process will be made in early January and teacher/parent contacts notified on or before January 10, 2025.
- Sponsorships - This is an option offered by some of the TT&S member companies to students in their territories to attend this event. Sponsorship amounts are determined by each of our participating member broadband companies but are generally a stipend for travel expenses to attend the event.
- Each TT&S member company covers a different territory of ND (see map below).
- Each member company has the option of sponsoring 2-3 students within their territory.
- Each member company has final say for the students they select to sponsor to attend the event.
Student Locations and Our Member Territories:
Below is a list of our member companies and a map of their territories. Some of our companies will select which students they will sponsor. Not all member companies will provide sponsorships at this time. Please see the map below to determine which of our member company territories covers your community; not all companies on this map are TT&S members. TT&S member companies are listed below the map.
TT&S Member Companies
BEK Communications
NCC (includes ND Nemont territories on map)
Polar Communications
Red River Telecommunications
United/Turtle Mountain Communications
West River Telecommunications Coop*
* Indicates companies that have confimed their sponsorships of students.
PRIVACY DISCLOSURE: TT&S respects student privacy. We only request basic information and will not share that except with our partners as necessary, including DCN staff who will need to know who to expect for tours and our member companies working with us for selecting and/or sponsoring students.
Student names and school names and/or school logos are the only personal identification items on student name badges.
last updated 10/11/24