The Horatio Alger Denny Sanford Scholarship provides 12 awards at $20,000 each to be disbursed throughout a student’s collegiate career at the University of South Dakota. Like all Horatio Alger Scholarships, the Horatio Alger Denny Sanford Scholarship assists high school students who have faced great obstacles in their young lives to overcome their adversities, attend a post-secondary institution and achieve success.
Eligibility:
- Be committed to complete a bachelor’s degree at University of South Dakota
- Be enrolled full time as a high school student in the United States; be progressing normally toward graduation with plans to enter a college in the United States no later than the fall following graduation
- Demonstrate critical financial need ($65,000 or less family income required)
- Be involved in community service activities
- Display integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity
- Maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.5
- Be a United States citizen
Applicable Institutions:
University of South Dakota
Questions:
Cori Hup at (605) 658-6214 or cori.hup@usd.edu
The University of South Dakota offers a limited number of Legacy Scholarships to incoming first-year students who are South Dakota residents and whose parent(s) or legal guardian(s) graduated from USD. This one-time $1,000 scholarship recognizes students with a family connection to the university.
Eligibility:
- Be an incoming first-year student at USD
- Be a South Dakota resident
- Have at least one parent or legal guardian who graduated from USD
Applicable Institutions:
University of South Dakota
Questions:
Cori Hup at 605-658-6214 or cori.hup@usd.edu
The University of South Dakota offers the Dual Credit Scholarship to students who completed high school dual credit courses through USD and enroll as first-time, full-time USD students. Scholarship amounts are based on the number of USD dual credit hours completed.
Eligibility:
- Earn a C or higher in high school dual credit courses. Courses completed with a D, F or W do not count toward scholarship eligibility.
- Enroll at USD as a first-time, full-time student.
Award Amounts:
- Award amounts will be based on how many credit hours the students have completed with USD
- 1-6 USD credit hours, $600 total ($150 per year)
- 7-12 USD credit hours, $1,100 total ($275 per year)
- 13+ USD credit hours, $1,600 total ($400 per year)
Applicable Institutions:
University of South Dakota
Questions:
Cori Hup at 605-658-6214 or cori.hup@usd.edu
South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF) manages a wide variety of scholarships, connecting students to opportunities made possible through the generosity of our donors.
To apply, students should visit SDCommunityFoundation.org/Scholarships.
On the SDCF Scholarships tab, they should create a username and password on the For Students link. They will then complete a common application, which identifies the scholarships available for their high school. The system automatically matches students to potential scholarships, and students can review these matches to confirm their eligibility before applying.
Eligibility:
Each scholarship has its own eligibility criteria.
Applicable Institutions:
Each scholarship may be applied to various institutions, including colleges, universities, or technical colleges.
Questions:
Kelly Nelson at 605-224-1025 or
knelson@sdcommunityfoundation.org
Annis Fowler began a teaching career in 1927 that spanned nearly 50 years. She obtained her B.A. from Northern Normal School and eventually specialized in teaching students with various learning disabilities. The primary objective of this 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. Special consideration is given to student who demonstrated motivational availability a disability or who are self-supporting.
Eligibility:
- 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)
Selection Process:
The Annis Irene Fowler/Kaden Scholarship applications will be reviewed and scored by the Board of Regents System Scholarship Committee. The following will be required:
- A completed Fowler/Kaden Scholarship application form,
- An original essay on a topic selected by the donors each year,
- Two letters of recommendation, and
- Official high school transcript.
Applicable Institutions:
- BHSU, DSU, NSU, SDSU or USD
Questions:
The Elma and Dolores Haver Scholarship is a full-ride award given annually to one outstanding high school senior enrolling at South Dakota State University (SDSU).
Eligibility:
- Awarded annually to one outstanding high school senior based on academics.
- Students must be a first-time, full-time student enrolling in any major.
- Preference will be given to students from the Irene-Wakonda School District.
- Students must have a high school cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher, a 22 or higher ACT composite or superscore (or SAT equivalent) and demonstrate financial need based on the FAFSA application.
- Students will be selected through a competitive interview selection process.
Applicable Institutions:
SDSU
Questions:
Lisa Schramm
605-688-4121
lisa.schramm@sdstate.edu
The Klingbeil Scholarship is a competitive award for outstanding high school seniors planning to major in agriculture-related fields at South Dakota State University (SDSU).
Eligibility:
- Awarded to outstanding high school seniors based on academic and extracurricular activities.
- Students must major in agricultural systems technology, agronomy or precision agriculture.
- Students are chosen through a competitive selection process that could include an interview.
- At a minimum, students selected for consideration must have a 22 or higher ACT composite or superscore (or SAT equivalent) or have a GPA of 3.5 or higher and have extensive leadership and extracurricular involvement.
Applicable Institutions:
SDSU
Questions:
Lisa Schramm
605-688-4121
lisa.schramm@sdstate.edu
The Hatterscheidt Scholarship is a one-year, $2,500 award for South Dakota high school seniors attending South Dakota State University (SDSU), based on financial need and academic achievement.
Eligibility:
- Must be a South Dakota Resident; graduating from a SD high school or home school.
- Must show financial need and must apply for Federal Student Aid.
- Must have average minimum high school GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Home school student must have a minimum ACT score of 18 or SAT of 960.
- Must be admitted to South Dakota State University for fall semester following graduation.
- Must plan to be a full time, main campus student planning to take a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester.
Applicable Institutions:
SDSU
Questions:
Lisa Schramm
605-688-4121
lisa.schramm@sdstate.edu
The Richard Hagen Minerva Harvey Memorial Scholarship supports enrolled members of American Indian tribes pursuing higher education in South Dakota. Scholarship recipients may receive up to $6,000 over four years, with funding continuing annually based on eligibility requirements. The Hagen Harvey Scholarship Board determines the number of scholarships awarded each year.
Eligibility:
- Graduate from an accredited South Dakota high school
- Apply within five years of high school graduation or within one year of release from active military duty (if released within five years of high school graduation)
- Be an enrolled member of an American Indian tribe
- Enroll full-time (minimum of 12 credit hours per semester)
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 throughout the scholarship period
- Attend a public or non-public accredited university, college, or technical institute located in South Dakota
Field of Study Requirements:
Open to all fields of study
Applicable Institutions:
Public or non-public accredited universities, colleges, and technical institutes located in South Dakota
Questions:
Melissa Bothun at 605-295-0433 or
Melissa.Bothun@state.sd.us
South Dakota Farmers Union awards scholarships to students who plan to continue their education at a South Dakota college, university, or technical college. The scholarship recognizes academic achievement, community involvement, and students pursuing fields that support agriculture or rural communities.
Eligibility:
- Be a current high school senior or college student
- Have a minimum 2.5 GPA
- Have a parent or guardian who is a current South Dakota Farmers Union member
- Plan to attend a South Dakota university or technical college
Field of Study Requirements:
Applicants are not limited to agribusiness, farm operations, or production agriculture, but their field of study should relate to or benefit rural America.
Applicable Institutions:
South Dakota universities and technical colleges
Questions:
Ashley Stegeman at 605-554-3022 or astegeman@sdfu.org
