Tower Family Foundation Recognizes Kari Carlson with Guardian Award
Kari Carlson, CEO of Tower Systems Inc. and founding Board Member of the Tower Family Foundation was recently recognized as one of the three people who stepped up to launch the Tower Family Foundation. Carlson served as the first Secretary and Treasurer of the organization. From the initial concept through the following six years, Kari served as a Board Member and Executive Committee Member through the turbulent start up years. Her influence and discipline set a course for unparalleled fiscal responsibility.
The Guardian Award recognizes a volunteer who has demonstrated noteworthy and consistent volunteerism to the cause of The Tower Family Foundation and its beneficiaries. The award uses no funds from the Tower Family Foundation and was presented by Foundation President Jim Tracy during NATE UNITE in Raleigh, North Carolina.
“Kari has been an inspirational model of volunteerism,” said Kenny Blakeslee, CEO of Apex Site Solutions and Foundation VP and Chairman of the Advisory Committee. “Her early vision and hard work were conspicuously above and beyond what would be reasonably expected.” This award recognizes the highest level of service to the families of the communications infrastructure industry who have been impacted by tragedy.
Tower Family Foundation 2025 Scholarship Application Open Through May 31
The Tower Family Foundation expanded the non-profit organization’s scholarship program in 2024 to include enhanced eligibility criteria to support more students on a merit basis. The application period to apply for scholarships for the Fall 2025 semester is officially open through May 31, 2025.
The Tower Family Foundation scholarship is open to the broader NATE community by offering a limited number of merit-based scholarships that will be available annually to the Association’s member company employees and their eligible dependents. The review and evaluation of all scholarship applications will be based on specific requirements related to academic achievement, future promise based on the degree program, and the responses to written essays.
In alignment with the Foundation’s core mission, need-based scholarships are offered to support individuals who have been severely injured or permanently disabled in the tower industry. These scholarships are also available to the legal dependents of workers who have tragically passed away or become permanently disabled due to work-related incidents. The scholarship aims to provide a crucial financial bridge during the transition to higher education, alleviating the financial burdens that often arise in the aftermath of an accident or permanent disability.
Tower Family Foundation Scholarships are valued at up to $5,000.00 per year for full-time students (carrying a minimum of 12 semester hours) and up to $2,500.00 per year for part-time students (carrying a minimum of 6 semester hours). Provided that outlined criteria are met, scholarships are renewable annually (for up to four years for full-time students and six years for part-time students).
Students interested in applying for a Tower Family Foundation Scholarship are encouraged to review the guidelines HERE and complete the official application HERE. Interested stakeholders are encouraged to visit the Tower Family Foundation’s website at www.towerfamilyfoundation.org, to learn more about the organization and make an online contribution.
Tower Family Foundation
April 9, 2025
The Tower Family Foundation is a 501c-3 non-profit organization whose mission is providing financial assistance to communications infrastructure workers and their family members in the aftermath of job-related accidents or fatalities, and funding education scholarship opportunities for eligible industry communications infrastructure workers, their family members, and dependents.