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
The South Dakota Education Association (SDEA) awards scholarships to high school students who are planning on entering the teaching profession. The Association may annually award up to two $500 scholarships for each academic year with the possibility of a one-year renewal if the student meets continuing eligibility requirements.
Eligibility:
- Have a GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale or be in the top half of his/her class as of January of the year of application.
- Be a student in a South Dakota public education institution.
- Be an active member in a South Dakota Educators Rising Chapter.
- Be accepted and/or enrolled in a South Dakota college or university with a School of Education.
- Participate in local and statewide Educators Rising activities.
* Special consideration will be given to students who have volunteered to assist with SDEA activities.
Applicable Institutions:
Any South Dakota public university with a School of Education
Questions:
Sandra Waltman at 605-224-9263 or sandra.waltman@sdea.org
The Folds of Honor Scholarship provides educational assistance to the families of those who have made extraordinary sacrifices for our country and communities. Administered by the nonprofit organization Folds of Honor, the scholarship helps offset the cost of education for eligible students pursuing K–12 private education, college degrees, technical or trade programs, and other approved postsecondary pathways. The program honors service and sacrifice by supporting educational opportunity.
Eligibility:
- Must be a spouse or dependent child of:
- A U.S. military service member who has been killed or permanently disabled while serving in the line of duty, or
- A first responder (including law enforcement, firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics) who has been killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty.
Applicable Institutions:
All Accredited Colleges and Universities
Questions:
Folds Of Honor – South Dakota Chapter
Don Zwart at 605-321-7001 or donald.zwart060@gmail.com
The South Dakota Retailers Association scholarship program provides assistance to students studying for a career in retail and hospitality businesses, whether as an owner, manager, or employee. In 2025, their Scholarship Committee awarded funds to five students, in amounts ranging from $2,750 to $3,700.
Field of Study Requirements:
- Hospitality
- Business*
- Trades
*We consider a broad range of business programs eligible for the scholarship including agribusiness, auto mechanics, business administration, computer science, culinary arts, heating/ventilation, hotel/restaurant management, pharmacy, tourism industry management, and more.
Applicable Institutions:
All South Dakota Colleges and Universities
Eligibility:
- Applicant must desire a career in a retail or retail-related field, including hospitality and trade businesses.
- Applicant must enroll in a retail-related course of study at a qualifying, accredited technical school, college, university, or certified professional training institute in the fall of 2026. Enrollment in an online degree program from a qualifying school is acceptable.
- Examples of fields of study considered to be retail-related include (but are not limited to): Accounting, Agribusiness, Apparel Merchandising, Auto Mechanics, Automotive Technology, Business Administration, Business Management, Collision Repair, Computer Science, Commercial Baking, Cosmetology, Culinary Arts, Diesel Mechanics, Electrical Maintenance, Entrepreneurial Studies, Gemology, HVAC, Hotel/Restaurant Management, Landscape Design, Pharmacy, Photography, Printing Industries, Refrigeration, Sales/Marketing Management, and Tourism Industry Management. (NOTE: this list is not all-inclusive.)
- South Dakota Education – applicant must meet one of these three requirements
- Graduated from a South Dakota high school – OR –
- Have earned high school equivalency (such as a GED) in South Dakota – OR –
- Plan to attend post-secondary school in South Dakota
- Applicant must meet one of these four requirements:
- have completed at least 24 credits from a qualifying college or university by September 2026
- have completed 12 credits from a qualifying tech school or certified professional training institute by September of 2026
- have successfully completed ProStart Levels 1 and 2 (high school culinary arts program)
- non-traditional student who has full-time work experience after high school
- Students must enroll in 12 or more credit hours of classes at a qualifying post-secondary school or online degree program for the fall of 2026. (Internships do not qualify)
- Prior recipients are eligible
Questions:
Brooke Bohnenkamp at 605-224-5050 or bbohnenkamp@sdra.org
The Yankton College Scholarship Program awards post-graduate scholarships from endowed or restricted funds to deserving students each academic year to use at an accredited educational institution (college/university). The applicant’s name and personal information is first redacted then ranked by the application reviewers on academic merit, leadership potential, good citizenship and exemplary character and for those scholarships with a financial need component. The recipients to receive financial aid are selected anonymously by the highest percentage. The Yankton College Scholarship Committee makes the final recommendations.
Eligibility:
- Applicant must seek a graduate degree from an accredited educational institution.
- Applicant will be given points for relationship(s) based on:
- A) have a family relationship to Yankton College alumni, former faculty or staff; OR
- B) be recommended by a family friend, teacher, pastor or other person with a connection to Yankton College; OR
- C) be a Yankton College graduate or former YC faculty or staff member.
- Applicant must show evidence of high academic ability and promise. Such evidence should include but not necessarily be limited to:
- an overall undergraduate grade point average of 3.00 on a 4-point scale
- a composite of 800 on the GRE or equivalent on a nationally recognized graduate admissions test
- leadership in one or more academic or non-academic activity while in college and/or since graduation
- Include 2 letters of reference from a college faculty member or other appropriate person attesting to your scholastic ability, leadership qualities and character.
- Include a leadership statement revealing as much as possible the leadership roles you have assumed during college, at work, in the community or in your church.
- Include undergraduate transcript(s)
- Include a personal statement demonstrating creativity and skill in writing which includes your educational objectives and future goals. Statement must be typed and not exceed one page, double-spaced and use a font size of 10 or more.
Applicable Institutions:
Any Accredited Post-Secondary Institution
Questions:
Melanie Mines at 605-665-3661 or ycoffice@yanktoncollege.org
Each year, the Independent Insurance Agents of South Dakota (IIASD) awards $20,000 in scholarships to students who recognize the positive impact that service has in their hometowns. Our members are deeply rooted in communities across South Dakota, and this scholarship reflects that same commitment to helping others. This program is designed to uplift the stories of individuals who make a meaningful difference — and the students who notice.
We’re not evaluating GPAs or résumés. We’re looking for students who recognize and value the people around them who make South Dakota communities stronger.
Eligibility:
- Any South Dakota student (high school senior, current college student, or nontraditional student)
- Who will be attending a South Dakota college, university, or technical school this fall
- And who submits their essay through a participating IIASD member office
Applicable Institutions:
Any South Dakota college, university, or technical school
Questions:
Blake Severyn
Area Federal Credit Union (Area FCU) understands the importance of higher education. In order to encourage its pursuit, they are offering five (5) $1,000 scholarships for the 2026-2027 academic school year to Area FCU members attending a two- or four-year post-secondary accredited college or university or a technical/vocational school.
Eligibility:
- Applicants and/or Guardian must be a member of Area Federal Credit Union (Prior to 2026).
- Your account must be in good standing.
- Students must be in good standing with the school in which they are enrolled or have recently graduated from and have a GPA greater than 2.5.
- Students must be planning to attend:
- An accredited college or university or technical/vocational school in the fall upon high school graduation.
- Be currently enrolled in an accredited college or university or technical/vocational school.
Applicable Institutions:
Any two- or four-year post-secondary accredited college or university or a technical/vocational school
Questions:
Allison Maunu
605-725-0661
amaunu@areafcu.org
If you consider higher education the first step toward your aspirations, POET wants to help you get there. POET Never Satisfied Scholarships are open to students enrolled in any accredited two- or four-year post-secondary school, regardless of GPA, and open to Agriculture, Finance, Accounting, Communications, Engineering, Computer Science, Human Resources, or related degree programs or minors.
The POET Never Satisfied Scholarship Program awards up to $75k in total scholarships to students who are Never Satisfied with “good enough” and share POET’s mission to create a brighter future. Both 4-and-2-year accredited universities are eligible to apply. Recipients attending a 4-year university will receive a $5,000 scholarship and those attending a technical university will receive a $2,500 scholarship. Never Satisfied Scholars also receive hands-on networking and learning opportunities with members of the POET team.
We’re looking for individuals whose drive and ambition help them to see the world differently — who take the task of creating change into their own hands. Sound like you? Apply today!
Eligibility:
- Open to high school seniors and current college students (graduate students included)
- Majoring in Agriculture, Finance, Accounting, Communications, Engineering, Computer Science, Human Resources, or related degree programs or minors.
Field of Study Requirements:
Agriculture
Finance
Accounting
Communications
Engineering
Computer Science
Human Resources
Or related degree programs or minors
Applicable Institutions:
Any accredited two- or four-year college
Yankton College was a private liberal arts college located in Yankton, SD until 1984. The Yankton College Alumni Association has an active Scholarship program offering 20 undergraduate scholarships available for 2026 High school graduates to use during the 2026-27 academic year, seeking a bachelors degrees. Only ONE application is needed to apply for all awards given in this program. Awards range from $1000-$4000.
Any 2026 High School Senior may apply, additional points are awarded to those with family or friendship ties to the school, but this is not a requirement for application. Scholarship moneys can be used at any accredited US college/university. Application requires a leadership statement and a personal statement from applicant, plus two letters of reference.
How to Apply:
Download the application at www.yanktoncollege.org and send it vial mail or email by deadline of February 20, 2026.
Eligibility:
- Any High School Senior (Graduating Class of 2026) seeking a bachelors degree
- Minimum ACT Score of 21 (SAT Score 1000)
- High School GPA 3.0 or higher
- Additional consideration is given to those applicants with a Yankton College connection. Applicants may have:
- a family relationship to Yankton College alumni, former faculty or staff
- a family friend, teacher, or a United Church of Christ pastor with a connection to Yankton College recommend an applicant,
- be a Yankton College graduate, former student, faculty or staff.
Applicable Institutions:
Any Accredited College or University
Questions:
Melanie Mines at 605-665-3661 or ycoffice@yanktoncollege.org
