The Scholarship Committee of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of South Dakota is proud to announce that applications are now being accepted for the 2026 scholarship cycle. This year, the Grand Lodge will award ten $2,000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors. These awards are designed to support students planning to attend a public or private college, university, or technical school. While all eligible seniors are encouraged to apply, preference will be given to students attending an institution within the state of South Dakota. In a commitment to long-term academic success, these scholarships are awarded for one year but may be reapplied for annually for a maximum of five years, provided the student remains in good standing.
Interested students can find the application materials on the Grand Lodge website at https://sdgrandlodge.org/ under the “Programs” tab by selecting “Scholarships.” Completed applications should be returned via email to: office@sdgrandlodge.org.
Eligibility:
- Demonstrated financial need.
- Strong scholastic capability.
- A personal or family connection to a member of the Masonic fraternity.
Applicable Institutions:
Any public or private college, university, or technical school (preference will be given to students attending an institution within South Dakota)
Questions:
Derek Runge, Scholarship Committee Liaison, at derek.runge@sdgrandlodge.org
The South Dakota Telecommunications Association (SDTA) offers this statewide scholarship to South Dakota students who have been accepted into an accredited post-secondary institution in South Dakota. Applicants must intend on majoring in a degree/program or field of study that is useful in the telecommunications or broadband industry, or which significantly relies on the use of broadband services and related technologies. The applicant or his/her parent(s) or legal guardian must be a member or customer of an SDTA member company.
Eligibility:
- Must have a high school diploma, GED equivalent or will have it by graduation in 2026
- Must be accepted into or attending a multi-year program degree at any accredited technical college or other accredited post-secondary higher education institution in South Dakota for the fall 2026 semester
- Must be majoring in a degree/program or field of study that is useful in the telecommunications or broadband industry or which significantly relies on the use of broadband services and related technologies
- Must be a customer/member or have a parent or legal guardian that is a customer/member of a SDTA member company
- Previous SDTA Memorial Scholarship recipients are not eligible to apply
- Must provide two letters of recommendation
- Must provide an unofficial transcript
Required Field of Study:
Degree/program or field of study that is useful in the telecommunications or broadband industry, or which significantly relies on the use of broadband services and related technologies*
*Examples of eligible majors or fields of study for the SDTA Memorial Scholarship include, but are not limited to: Telecommunications; WiFi and Broadband Technologies; Information Systems Technology; Satellite Communications; Health Information Technology; Office Technology Specialist; Programming Specialist; Network Specialist; Engineering (Computer Science or Systems, Electrical, CAD, Software, Industrial, Communications Systems, Network Security); Technologies or Computers (Communications Systems Engineering Technologies, Computer Programming, Computer Software Specialist, Computer Systems or Software, Computer Applications, Utilities Technologies, Network Technician, Internet Apps Developer, Laser/Electro-Optics, Marketing, Network Administration, System Administrator); Technology Education; and Communication Arts (Graphic Design or Mass Communications, Commercial Arts, Multimedia/Web Development.)
Applicable Institutions:
Accredited post-secondary institution in South Dakota
Questions:
Kara Semmler at 605-212-1442 or karasemmler@sdtaonline.com
The new Jim and Boni Lochner Scholarship assists educators who wish to pursue the new Graduate Certificate in Visual Impairments at Northern State University. This certificate has been designed to meet the requirements for the Blind or Visually Impaired Endorsement through the South Dakota Department of Education.
Ideal candidates include teachers currently working in general education or special education who seek to expand their professional impact. The program welcomes educators from all grade levels and content areas. Because the Graduate Certificate in Visual Impairments can be completed as a stand-alone credential or serve as a direct pathway into Northern State University’s MSEd in Special Education with a specialization in Visual Impairments, this opportunity provides a flexible and meaningful way to advance your career while helping to meet a critical workforce need across South Dakota.
Eligibility:
- Be admitted to or enrolled in the Graduate Certificate in Visual Impairments program at Northern State University
- Demonstrate a strong interest in supporting students who are blind or visually impaired
- Awardees can be full-time graduate students in education or in-service teachers. (Preference may be given to applicants who are currently employed in South Dakota schools or who intend to serve South Dakota students after completing the program.)
Applicable Institutions:
Any Accredited University
Questions:
Jessica Vogel at Jessica.Vogel@sdsbvi.northern.edu
The South Dakota Association of Towns & Townships (SDATAT) is offering one $1,500, one $1,000 and one $500 scholarship to three senior high school students who reside in South Dakota, are currently attending a South Dakota public, private, parochial high school or a home school program, and live in a town or township that is a current member of SDATAT. (A membership list is available on the sdtownships.com website) or contact your local town/township board. Graduates of the class of 2026 are eligible to apply for the scholarship. The student must use the scholarship for a college, university, or vocational school which has a physical presence in South Dakota.
Eligibility:
- Must be a high school senior attending a South Dakota public, private, parochial high school or a home school program
- Must be a child of a member of the South Dakota Assn. Of Towns and Townships
- Must reside in a small town (population under 5000) or townships in South Dakota
Applicable Institutions:
Any South Dakota College or University
Questions:
Susan Walton at sdstaff@sdtownships.com
FirstLine Funding Group, a division of First Bank & Trust, will annually award scholarships to students attending accredited colleges, universities, or technical schools in the fall. Scholarships will be awarded at $1,000 each, and the number of scholarships awarded will vary.
Eligibility:
- Be a high school senior at Madison High School or full-time undergraduate student attending Dakota State University, both located in Madison, SD.
- Have not previously received a FirstLine Funding Group scholarship.
- Employees and members of the Board of Directors or Advisory Board of Directors of First Bank & Trust, its affiliates, and the immediate families (spouse, parents, siblings, and children, and each of their respective spouses regardless of where they live) and persons living in the households of each of these individuals, whether related or not, are not eligible.
Applicable Institutions:
Any Accredited College, University or Technical College
Questions:
Lori Gustaf at 605-427-4535 or scholarships@bankeasy.com
The South Dakota Education Association/NEA is calling for applications for the new Gordon Horgen Memorial Scholarship, which will be awarded to Native American students who plan on entering the teaching profession. The Association may annually award up to four $750 scholarships for each academic year. The scholarship is renewable for up to four years.
Eligibility:
- Be an college freshman or sophomore in Fall 2026.
- Have a GPA of 3 .0 on a 4.0 scale or be in the top quarter of his/her class as of January of their graduation year.
- Be a student in a South Dakota education institution.
- Be accepted and/or enrolled in a South Dakota college or university.
- Be enrolled in a Tribe or descendent of a Tribal enrollee. (refer to Indian Health Service/BIA requirements)
Required Field of Study:
Education
Applicable Institutions:
Any South Dakota College or University
Questions:
Sandra Waltman at 605-224-9263 or sandra.waltman@sdea.org
First Bank & Trust will annually award scholarships to students attending accredited colleges, universities, or technical schools in the fall 2026. Scholarships will be awarded at $1,000 each, and the number of scholarships awarded will vary by location.
Eligibility:
- Be a First Bank & Trust checking and/or savings account holder (account must be opened before the application deadline).
- Be enrolled full-time and attending an accredited post-secondary institution for the fall 2026 semester.
- Have not previously received a First Bank & Trust scholarship.
- Employees and members of the Board of Directors or Advisory Board of Directors of First Bank & Trust, its affiliates, and the immediate families (spouse, parents, siblings, and children, and each of their respective spouses regardless of where they live) and persons living in the households of each of these individuals, whether related or not, are not eligible
Applicable Institutions:
Any Accredited Post-Secondary Institution
Questions:
Scholarship Selection Committee at 800-843-1552 or scholarships@bankeasy.com
The South Dakota Education Association/NEA awards scholarships to outstanding students who are planning on entering the teaching profession. This is a four-year scholarship that awards $750 per year.
Eligibility:
Must be South Dakota high school seniors or college sophomores who plan to enter the teaching profession and attend a South Dakota college or university.
Must be the daughter/son or granddaughter/grandson of an active SDEA member or an SDEA-Retired member.
Required Field of Study:
Education
Applicable Institutions:
South Dakota College or University
Questions:
Sandra Waltman at 605-224-9263 or sandra.waltman@sdea.org
Dacotah Bank is proud to continue their scholarship program. Dacotah Bank offers a top scholarship award of $10,000 for one high school graduate. Dacotah Bank also offers twenty-nine $2,000 individual scholarships to be awarded in different market areas across Dacotah Bank’s diverse, three state territory. Judging criteria is outlined in the application.
Dacotah Bank has been happy to help youth in the communities they serve move on to secondary schools in their territory. To be eligible, high school seniors must be attending a higher education institute in South Dakota, North Dakota or Minnesota, and the applicant or immediate family member must have an account with Dacotah Bank.
Eligibility:
- High School Senior who will attend a higher education institution in North Dakota, South Dakota or Minnesota.
- Applicants must be high‑school seniors in ND, SD, or MN with an established Dacotah Bank relationship.
- Children of employees are ineligible for competitive awards but receive $500 with a full application and 3.0 GPA.
Applicable Institutions:
Any Higher Education Institute in South Dakota, North Dakota, or Minnesota
Questions:
Brittney Paulson at 605-226-5391 or Brittney.Paulson@dacotahbank.com
Each BankWest Scholarship has a $2,000 value and may be used to fund tuition at any accredited, post-secondary educational institution. The application process considers involvement in community activities, personal character, and academic integrity.
Eligibility:
- Must be a BankWest deposit account holder for a minimum of six months preceding the application deadline.
- Must be a United States citizen.
- Must be a high school senior or full-time undergraduate student currently attending an accredited post-high school educational institution.
- Must not have previously received a BankWest scholarship
Applicable Institutions:
All Accredited, Post-Secondary Educational Institutions
Questions:
Dinah Vasquez at 800-253-0362 or info@bankwest-sd.bank
