The Association of General Contractors supports two scholarships to assist with educational expenses required for study in Western Dakota Tech’s Architecture & Engineering Technology, Construction Technology, Electrical Trades, HVAC/R, and/or Welding Programs. Scholarships are in memory of Dr. Ken Gifford who served as the Director for Western Dakota Tech from 1987-2000.Students interested in applying can use Western Dakota Technical College’s Universal Scholarship Application at the link provided.
Eligibility:
Scholarship requires minimum high school and/or college GPA of 2.50 to qualify.
Eligible majors/fields: Architecture & Engineering Technology, Construction Technology, Electrical Trades, HVAC/R Technology, and Welding & Fabrication
Applicable Institutions:
Western Dakota Technical College
Questions:
Western Dakota Technical College Scholarships Office at 605-718-3061 or WDTScholarship@wdt.edu.
To provide financial support to students attending a college or university in South Dakota, who is pursuing a career in one of the following areas: Environmental Science, Environmental Geography, Environmental Sociology, Natural Resource Management, or Environmental Law.
Eligibility:
Eligible majors/fields: Environmental Science, Environmental Geography, Environmental Sociology, Natural Resource Management, or Environmental Law
Applicable Institutions:
Any SOUTH DAKOTA technical college or university
Questions:
Kelly Nelson at 605-224-1025 or knelson@sdcommunityfoundation.org.
This scholarship supports students whose family was impacted by a serious or fatal work injury. If your family was impacted by an injury at work or on the farm, please apply. The award amount listed is an estimate and depends on circumstances and financial need.
Eligibility:
Applicants must have family impacted by a serious or fatal work injury. Scholarship selection may be based on financial need.
Applicable Institutions:
ANY technical college or university
Questions:
Dan Nelson at 605-280-2702 or dan_nelson@ncci.com.
The Freedom Scholarship offers a statewide opportunity for students to help pay for college, as they help build South Dakota’s workforce. By demonstrating financial need and meeting scholarship requirements, students who plan to learn, live and work in South Dakota can use the scholarship toward any bachelor’s degree. To be considered for the South Dakota Freedom Scholarship, you need to apply for admission and be accepted at a participating South Dakota institution and complete the FAFSA. Students can reach out to their desired school to find out more eligibility requirements and application information and if funds remain. Students must commit in writing to living and working in South Dakota for at least three years after graduation and agree that any failure to meet the scholarship requirements will result in the scholarship being converted to a 4% fixed interest loan.
Eligibility:
Scholarship selection may be based on financial need.
Applicable Institutions:
BHSU, DSU, NSU, SDSMT, SDSU, USD, Private SD School
Questions:
Elli Haerter at 605-846-6976 or ehaerter@sdcommunityfoundation.org.
This scholarship is for a student pursuing a dental assisting degree at Lake Area Technical College.
Eligibility:
Scholarship selection may be based on financial need.
Eligible majors/fields: Dental Assisting
Applicable Institutions:
Lake Area Technical College
Questions:
Kelly Nelson at 605-224-1025 or knelson@sdcommunityfoundation.org.
The Gene Abdallah Scholarship is for a graduate of a South Dakota high school pursuing a career in law enforcement.
Eligibility:
Scholarship requires minimum high school GPA of 3.00 to qualify.
Eligible majors/fields: Law Enforcement
Applicable Institutions:
ANY technical college or university
Questions:
Kelly Nelson at 605-224-1025 or knelson@sdcommunityfoundation.org.
The Inez Taylor Walter Scholarship was established by Harley Taylor in memory of his sister, Inez Walter who was from the Ipswich area. The scholarship is for high school students in South Dakota. Preference in awarding this scholarship will be given to a student planning on attending a South Dakota or North Dakota college or university in the field of nursing.
Eligibility:
Eligible majors/fields: Nursing
Applicable Institutions:
ANY technical college or university
Questions:
Kelly Nelson at 605-224-1025 or knelson@sdcommunityfoundation.org.
This scholarship is for a graduate of a South Dakota high school who is pursuing a degree in automotive. Student must be attending one of the four technical colleges in South Dakota.
Eligibility:
Eligible majors/fields: Automotive
Applicable Institutions:
LATC, MTC, STC, WDTC
Questions:
Kelly Nelson at 605-224-1025 or knelson@sdcommunityfoundation.org.
The Critical Teaching Needs Scholarship is open to upcoming Juniors and Seniors in college who are pursuing a degree in specific education fields. The scholarship encourages South Dakota students to obtain their post-secondary education in South Dakota for teaching in certain critical teaching occupations. Awardees must agree in writing to remain in the state upon completion of their education to contribute to the state and its citizens by working in an eligible critical need teaching occupation – failure to do so will result in scholarship funding converting to a low interest loan that must be repaid. Eligible students can apply using the SD Board of Regents Scholarship Application Portal. Scholarships tentatively open February 2024.
Eligibility:
Applicants must be upcoming Juniors and Seniors in college. Eligible majors/fields: Certain Teaching Occupations.
Applicable Institutions:
BHSU, DSU, NSU, SDSU, USD, Private SD School
Questions:
Kerri Richards at 605-773-3455 or kerri.richards@sdbor.edu.
Students graduating from a public high school in 3 years or less are eligible for a one time scholarship of $1500 to be distributed equally across both the Fall and Spring semesters during their first year of post-secondary enrollment. Eligible students can apply using the SD Board of Regents Online Scholarship Portal.
Eligibility:
- Applicants must be 2025 graduates from a South Dakota public high school in 3 years or less.
Applicable Institutions:
- Any SOUTH DAKOTA technical college or university
Questions:
- Kerri Richards at 605-773-3455 or Kerri.Richards@sdbor.edu
