The Critical Teaching Needs Scholarship is a scholarship program funded by the state of South Dakota. It was established in 2013 by the SD Legislature. This scholarship was approved to encourage South Dakota’s high school graduates to:
- Obtain their post-secondary education in South Dakota,
- Remain in the state upon completion of their education, and
- Contribute to the state of South Dakota and its citizens by working in a critical need teaching occupation.
Field of Study Requirements:
All K-12 Teaching Positions
Initial Eligibility Requirements:
- Agree in writing to stay in South Dakota and work in a critical teaching need occupation for five years after graduating from a participating post-secondary institution
- Agree, through a promissory note, that failure to abide by the employment requirement above will result in the scholarship being converted into an interest-bearing loan
- Be fully admitted in an elementary or secondary education program at the institution that is preparing you to work in a critical need teaching area
- Attend a participating South Dakota post-secondary institution as an undergraduate enrolled in either your third or fourth year of a traditional four-year program
- Be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident
- Have a minimum cumulative 2.8 GPA on 4.0 scale, and an average of 2.8 GPA for all major coursework
Contact Information:
Contact us here: Request Form – Contact Us or email scholarships@sdbor.edu
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
This 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 from the Southwest Region of South Dakota: Lead-Deadwood, Spearfish, Meade Counties
Field of Study Requirements:
Trades- Welding, Machining, Mechanics or equivalent
Applicable Institutions:
ANY technical college or university
Questions:
Amanda Dorscht at (250) 841-9301 or admin@hy-techdrilling.com
This scholarship is for students pursuing a full-time post-secondary education within a creative arts discipline. Open to all graduating and mature students pursuing a full-time post secondary education. Applications are open to those living in the regions where we operate.
Eligibility:
Must be from the Southwest Region of South Dakota: Lead-Deadwood, Spearfish, Meade Counties
Field of Study Requirements:
Creative Arts or equivalent
Applicable Institutions:
ANY technical college or university
Questions:
Amanda Dorscht at (250) 841-9301 or admin@hy-techdrilling.com
This scholarship is for students pursuing an educational path which emphasizes innovative thinking. Open to all graduating and mature students pursuing a full-time post secondary education. Applications are open to those living in the regions where we operate.
Eligibility:
Must be from the Southwest Region of South Dakota: Lead-Deadwood, Spearfish, Meade Counties
Applicable Institutions:
ANY technical college or university
Questions:
Amanda Dorscht at (250) 841-9301 or admin@hy-techdrilling.com
Open to graduating and mature Indigenous students who are leaders and role models in their schools and communities.
Applications are open to those living in the regions where Hy-Tech Drilling operates.
Eligibility:
- Students from the Southwest Region of South Dakota: Lead-Deadwood, Spearfish, Meade Counties
- Must be American Indian, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
Applicable Institutions:
Any SOUTH DAKOTA technical college or university
Questions:
Amanda Dorscht at (250) 841-9301 or admin@hy-techdrilling.com
This scholarship, in memory of Donald H. Quimby, provides a one-time $350 award to a worthy South Dakota high school graduate attending a post-secondary institution. Donald Quimby spent his professional life in service to others as a teacher, coach, and administrator. He believed that everyone should have the same opportunity at a higher education institution, regardless of GPA.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Be a graduate from a South Dakota high school
- Submit a 300 to 500-word essay detailing your personal story, interests and educational goals
- Attach your essay and a copy of your high school transcript to this application before submitting it
- Provide a copy of the acceptance letter to the post-secondary institution.
- Preference may be given to a student from Hecla, Frederick, Gettysburg, Plankinton and Parkston high schools.
The completed application is due on or before April 1st and must be submitted to this mailing address: Donald H Quimby Memorial Scholarship c/o Kevin Quimby 3409 S Florence Ave Sioux Falls, SD 57103.
Applicable Institutions:
Any South Dakota technical college or four-year university
Questions:
Kevin Quimby at 605-201-3815
Area Federal Credit Union (Area FCU) understands the importance of higher education. In order to encourage its pursuit, we will offer five (5) $1,000 scholarships for the 2025-2026 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 Requirements:
- 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.
- Applicants must be a member of Area Federal Credit Union (Prior to 2025).
- Be the primary member on your account which is in good standing.
- 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.
- An accredited college or university or technical/vocational school
Applicable Institutions:
Any technical college or four-year university
Questions:
Allison Maunu at 605-225-2488 or leadership@areafcu.org
The South Dakota Bankers Foundation annually offers five named scholarships awarded directly to students attending a South Dakota university who are pursuing a career in banking or finance. Applicants must be in their junior year, entering their senior year of college during the 2025-2026 school year. Please refer to your academic handbook if you need clarification for junior/senior credit qualifications.
Field of Study Requirements:
Expressed Interest in a Banking or Finance Career (may include business, finance, IT, cybersecurity, HR, marketing, etc.)
Applicable Institutions:
Any SOUTH DAKOTA University
Questions:
Halley Lee at 605-224-1653 or events@sdba.com
Sioux Valley Energy is offering $20,000 worth of scholarships this year to eligible graduating high school seniors or first-time attendees at an institution of higher education. Applications are judged on the basis of grades, ACT or SAT test scores, work experience, school activities, volunteer community service and an essay question. The scholarship committee that determines recipients includes two Operation Round Up Board Members, an SVE Board Member, two SVE employees and a school counselor or administrative staff member. The majority of the scholarship funding comes from Operation Round Up funds, with additional funds from Basin Electric Power Cooperative and L&O Power Cooperative.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Minimum high school or college GPA: 2.5
- Be a graduating high school senior or first-time attendee at an institution of higher education
- Plan to be a full-time student in an accredited college or vocational technical school this
Applicable Institutions:
ANY technical college or university
Contact Information:
Sioux Valley Energy at 800-234-1960 or info@siouxvalleyenergy.com
