1st Financial Bank USA (1FBUSA) created the Financial Goals Scholarship program to celebrate those who recognize the importance of pursuing educational and financial goals. A $2,000 scholarship is awarded to a new winner each month. To enter, students must submit an essay about a personal finance topic in 500 words. Full rules and eligibility can be found at 1fbusascholarship.com.
Eligibility:
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Be 18 years or older
- Be a high school senior, undergraduate, or graduate student
- Be enrolled or planning to enroll in a college degree program
Field of Study Requirements:
Open to all fields of study
Applicable Institutions:
Any College or University
Questions:
Scholarship Committee at (712) 251-2030 or scholarship@1fbusa.com
The Smithfield Foods Scholarship program is for the children and dependent grandchildren of full-time and retired employees. Scholarship amounts are need based and determined by the University of South Dakota Financial Aid Office, based on the unmet financial need. Recipients must maintain a 2.5 GPA, be enrolled full-time, complete the FAFSA, and submit a thank you letter.
Eligibility:
- Must be children and dependent grandchildren of full-time and retired employees of Smithfield Foods
- Must maintain a 2.5 GPA while in college
- Must be enrolled at the University of South Dakota full-time
- Must complete the FAFSA
Applicable Institutions:
University of South Dakota
Questions:
Cori Hup at (605) 658-6214 or cori.hup@usd.edu
At USD, you can benefit from the Coyote Beginnings program. All first-time freshman students who apply for fall admission to USD are automatically considered for up to $4,000 per year. Coyote Beginnings is available to recipients for up to four years as a full-time student and is based on GPA, standardized test scores and committee review.
Students at USD – Sioux Falls can now benefit from the Coyote Beginnings program. All first-time freshman students who apply for fall admission to USD – Sioux Falls are automatically considered for up to $2,000 per year. Coyote Beginnings is available to recipients for up to four years as a full-time student and is based on GPA and committee review.
The Coyote Beginnings may include a combination of funding from other scholarships or additional sources awarded to you. To receive full consideration, apply to the University of South Dakota by April 1. Applications submitted after this date will be reviewed for any remaining funds, if available. No separate application is required for this award—your eligibility will be automatically assessed based on your admissions application.
Eligibility:
- Be admitted to the University of South Dakota as a first-time, degree-seeking freshman
- Graduate from high school (or equivalent) prior to enrollment
- Enroll full time at USD (typically defined as 12 or more credit hours per semester)
- Submit a completed USD admission application (full consideration if application is submitted by April 1)
- No separate scholarship application is required
- Meet academic criteria used for award determination, which may include:
- High school GPA
- ACT or SAT scores (if submitted)
Applicable Institutions:
University of South Dakota
Questions:
Cori Hup at (605) 658-6214 or cori.hup@usd.edu
This scholarship program provides a limited number of $1,000 scholarships to be awarded to incoming freshman students who are South Dakota residents and whose parent(s) or legal guardian(s) graduated from the University of South Dakota (USD).
Eligibility:
- Incoming freshman USD in Fall 2026
- South Dakota resident
- Parent(s) or legal guardians(s) graduated from USD
Applicable Institutions:
University of South Dakota
Questions:
Cori Hup at 605-658-6214 or cori.hup@usd.edu
Valued at up to $500 (up to $250 per semester for the first two semesters), the USD Valedictorian Scholarship is presented to high school seniors who rank at the top of their graduating classes during the awarding period. Recipients must remain enrolled full-time on the Vermillion campus.
Eligibility:
- High school seniors who rank at the top of their graduating classes during the awarding period
- Enroll full-time at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion in Fall 2026
Applicable Institutions:
University of South Dakota
Questions:
Cori Hup at 605-658-6214 or cori.hup@usd.edu
The University of South Dakota is proud to offer the SD Dual Credit Scholarship to South Dakota students who successfully completed High School Dual Credit courses.
Eligibility:
- Earn a “C” or higher in all High School Dual Credit (HSDC) courses
- Any HSDC course completed with a D, F or W will not be counted toward the credit total considered for the scholarship
- Enroll at USD as a first-time, full-time student
- 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
The South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF) manages more than 350 scholarships, connecting students with the generosity of our donors. Each scholarship has its own eligibility criteria and deadline.
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 and deadline.
Applicable Institutions:
Each scholarship may be applied to various of institutions, including colleges, universities, or technical colleges.
Questions:
Kelly Nelson at 605-224-1025 or
knelson@sdcommunityfoundation.org
The Dakotas Society of American Foresters Forestry Scholarship is for students who are current, or past, residents of South or North Dakota and who are already enrolled with a Forestry major or have been accepted into a college, university, or technical school and declared their intent to pursue a Forestry major.
Field of Study Requirements:
The broad field of Forestry, including Forest Resource Management, Urban Forestry, Agroforestry, Biology with Forestry Emphasis, etc.
Eligibility Requirements:
- The student must have a declared major in the broad field of Forestry (Forest Resource Management, Urban Forestry, Agroforestry, Biology with Forestry Emphasis, etc.). Provide transcripts or other documentation of a declared major in the broad field of
forestry. Incoming students must provide documentation of the declared major and acceptance at a college, university, or technical school.
- The student must be a current or past resident in the Dakotas. Provide a copy of a driver’s license, high school transcripts, or other document proving past or current residency in North or South Dakota.
- The student must be a student member of the Society of American Foresters (SAF). Incoming, or new, students must include a commitment to becoming an SAF member in the required essay. Existing student members should provide their membership ID number.
- The student must have a 2.5 GPA or above. Provide your most recent College, Technical School, or High School transcripts. Photocopies are acceptable.
- The student will provide a one-page essay discussing the importance of science-based forest management in our forests, the role of the Society of American Foresters in achieving science-based forest management, and the applicant’s educational and career goals.
- The student will provide a letter of recommendation written by someone other than a family member.
- Previous scholarship recipients must include a progress report describing their courses, experiences, and successes accomplished during and since the year in which they received the previous DSAF scholarship.
Applicable Institutions:
ANY technical college or university
Questions:
Greg Josten at 605-390-8306 or gregjosten22@gmail.com
The Mechanical Mind scholarship is for graduating and mature students pursuing an educational path in welding, machining, or mechanics. Applications are open to those living in the regions where Hy-Tech Drilling operates.
Eligibility:
- Must be a graduating high school senior or mature student
- Must plan to enroll full-time in a post-secondary institution
- Must be pursuing an educational path in welding, machining, mechanics, or a related skilled trades field
- Must reside in or attend school in a region where Hy-Tech Drilling operates (e.g., Lead-Deadwood, Spearfish, Meade County)
- Open to both traditional students and mature learners returning to school
- Must complete all required application materials (including transcript, reference letter, and cover letter)
Field of Study Requirements:
Trades-Welding, Machining, Mechanics or equivalent
Applicable Institutions:
ANY technical college or university
Questions:
Hy-Tech Drilling
Phone: 1-250-847-9301
Email: admin@hy-techdrilling.com
Hy-Tech Drilling offers this scholarship to support students pursuing creative arts and contributing to vibrant communities. Open to graduating high school seniors and mature students, this opportunity is for those enrolling full-time in a post-secondary program with an arts focus. Applicants should demonstrate creativity, passion, and a commitment to their artistic field.
Eligibility:
- Applicants must be graduating high school seniors or mature students residing in or attending school in the Southwest Region of South Dakota: Lead-Deadwood, Spearfish, Meade Counties.
- Students must plan to enroll full-time in an accredited post-secondary institution and pursue a degree or certification in a creative arts field.
- This scholarship is open to first-time freshmen, current post-secondary students, and graduate students.
- No minimum GPA, test score, or financial need requirement is required.
Field of Study Requirements:
Creative Arts or equivalent
Applicable Institutions:
ANY technical college or university
Questions:
Hy-Tech Drilling
Phone: 1-250-847-9301
Email: admin@hy-techdrilling.com
