Educator Toolkits

The South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship allows South Dakota’s most academically accomplished high school graduates to receive up to $7,500 scholarship from any university, college, or technical school in South Dakota that is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The below resources help educators communicate eligibility criteria and other important aspects of the program with students and their parents.

OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP RESOURCES

• Opportunity Scholarship Eligibility Changes – Class of 2027 and Beyond
• Opportunity Scholarship Webpage
• Opportunity Scholarship Flyer
• Opportunity Scholarship FAQs
• Opportunity Scholarship PowerPoint
• Approved High School & Dual Credit Curriculum
• Approved CTE for Core Content List
• SDBOR Opportunity Scholarship Knowledge Base

South Dakota students may be able to earn their degrees for free at a South Dakota technical college by pursuing a high-need industry and committing to work in South Dakota for three years.

• Student Program Handout
• Industry Partner Handout
• Build Dakota Scholarship Toolkits

The Freedom Scholarship is available to students with unmet financial need as determined through their submission of the FAFSA in conjunction with the financial aid office at the university.

Provides full tuition and generally applicable fees to selected, qualified students for degrees that will prepare them to work in critical-need occupations in South Dakota following graduation.

• Dakota Corps Scholarship Flyer

Open to students who will be juniors or seniors in college, this scholarship supports students pursuing a teaching degree with a commitment to teach in a high need teaching field for 5 years in South Dakota.

• Critical Teaching Needs Scholarship Flyer

The Jump Start Scholarship program is designed to provide a student who graduates from a South Dakota public high school in three years or less a $1,500 scholarship if the student enrolls at any South Dakota college, university, or technical school accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

No student who enrolls in a high school for all or any part of a fourth year is eligible for the Jump Start Scholarship program.

• Jump Start Scholarship Flyer

The primary objective of the Annis Irene Fowler/Kaden Scholarship is to promote the education of deserving students who enroll on a full-time basis at one of the South Dakota Board of Regents Universities providing teacher education.

• Annis Irene Fowler/Kaden Scholarship Flyer

Eligibility for this scholarship includes:

• A 3.0 cumulative high school GPA,
• First-time entering freshman at BHSU, DSU, NSU, SDSU or USD, and
• Intent to major in Elementary Education (or combination of major/minor with Special Education/Elementary Education)

The Ardell Bjugstad Scholarship Program (established in 1991) for Native American students provides support for freshman Native American students who are pursuing studies in agribusiness, agricultural production, agricultural sciences, or a natural resources degree at any postsecondary institution.

• Ardell Bjugstad Scholarship Flyer

Eligibility:

• Enrolled member of a federally recognized Indian tribe whose reservation is located in South Dakota or North Dakota
• Resident of South Dakota or North Dakota
• Demonstrated academic achievement
• High school senior planning to earn a degree in agriculture or natural resources or a related field