South Dakota Farm Bureau is dedicated to agriculture in our state. This scholarship is to celebrate youth that have a passion for agriculture and their rural communities. We want to award scholarships to youth who are planning on returning to rural communities to work. Applicants can choose to be considered for an agriculture-focus or community-focus scholarship, depending on their major and/or experience with agriculture.
Eligibility:
- Applicant, applicant’s parents or guardians must be a current member of South Dakota Farm Bureau and must have been a member for 2 years.
- Scholarship applicants are not allowed to receive this scholarship award more than once.
- Must be accepted by an accredited school of higher learning and planning to study a minimum of one year as a full-time student.
- Must be 17 years of age or older, a high school graduate or a college freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior. If still in high school, must have an expected graduation date of Spring 2026.
- Applications from high school seniors must include a copy of most recent ACT score or Accuplacer score.
- All applicants must include current transcript with grade point average.
- Graduate students are not eligible for this scholarship.
- Scholarship is applied toward tuition fees only and will be awarded after the first semester.
Applicable Institutions:
Any accredited school of higher learning
Questions:
Heather Lentz at 605-353-8054 or heather@sdfbf.org
The South Dakota Telecommunications Association (SDTA) offers this statewide scholarship to South Dakota students who have been accepted into an accredited post-secondary institution in South Dakota. Applicants must intend on majoring in a degree/program or field of study that is useful in the telecommunications or broadband industry, or which significantly relies on the use of broadband services and related technologies. The applicant or his/her parent(s) or legal guardian must be a member or customer of an SDTA member company.
Eligibility:
- Must have a high school diploma, GED equivalent or will have it by graduation in 2026
- Must be accepted into or attending a multi-year program degree at any accredited technical college or other accredited post-secondary higher education institution in South Dakota for the fall 2026 semester
- Must be majoring in a degree/program or field of study that is useful in the telecommunications or broadband industry or which significantly relies on the use of broadband services and related technologies
- Must be a customer/member or have a parent or legal guardian that is a customer/member of a SDTA member company
- Previous SDTA Memorial Scholarship recipients are not eligible to apply
- Must provide two letters of recommendation
- Must provide an unofficial transcript
Required Field of Study:
Degree/program or field of study that is useful in the telecommunications or broadband industry, or which significantly relies on the use of broadband services and related technologies*
*Examples of eligible majors or fields of study for the SDTA Memorial Scholarship include, but are not limited to: Telecommunications; WiFi and Broadband Technologies; Information Systems Technology; Satellite Communications; Health Information Technology; Office Technology Specialist; Programming Specialist; Network Specialist; Engineering (Computer Science or Systems, Electrical, CAD, Software, Industrial, Communications Systems, Network Security); Technologies or Computers (Communications Systems Engineering Technologies, Computer Programming, Computer Software Specialist, Computer Systems or Software, Computer Applications, Utilities Technologies, Network Technician, Internet Apps Developer, Laser/Electro-Optics, Marketing, Network Administration, System Administrator); Technology Education; and Communication Arts (Graphic Design or Mass Communications, Commercial Arts, Multimedia/Web Development.)
Applicable Institutions:
Accredited post-secondary institution in South Dakota
Questions:
Kara Semmler at 605-212-1442 or karasemmler@sdtaonline.com
The new Jim and Boni Lochner Scholarship assists educators who wish to pursue the new Graduate Certificate in Visual Impairments at Northern State University. This certificate has been designed to meet the requirements for the Blind or Visually Impaired Endorsement through the South Dakota Department of Education.
Ideal candidates include teachers currently working in general education or special education who seek to expand their professional impact. The program welcomes educators from all grade levels and content areas. Because the Graduate Certificate in Visual Impairments can be completed as a stand-alone credential or serve as a direct pathway into Northern State University’s MSEd in Special Education with a specialization in Visual Impairments, this opportunity provides a flexible and meaningful way to advance your career while helping to meet a critical workforce need across South Dakota.
Eligibility:
- Be admitted to or enrolled in the Graduate Certificate in Visual Impairments program at Northern State University
- Demonstrate a strong interest in supporting students who are blind or visually impaired
- Awardees can be full-time graduate students in education or in-service teachers. (Preference may be given to applicants who are currently employed in South Dakota schools or who intend to serve South Dakota students after completing the program.)
Applicable Institutions:
Any Accredited University
Questions:
Jessica Vogel at Jessica.Vogel@sdsbvi.northern.edu
Foundation 649 is a 501c3 that discovers and empowers young, talented Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who are actively elevating and serving their communities across the country. The F649 Scholarship is a grant of $4,000 over the course of 4 years that can be applied to college tuition and expenses. To maintain eligibility each year, there will be a brief check-in and renewal process at the end of each school year.
Eligibility:
- Be a degree-seeking, full-time student enrolling in a U.S. accredited university in Fall 2026 as a Freshman or transferring from a community college
- Identify as Asian American / Pacific Islander
- Have a track record of involvement and interest in AAPI communities, issues, or causes
- Have demonstrated financial need for the scholarship
- Be a US citizen, resident, or foreign national. Undocumented students are also welcome to apply.
Applicable Institutions:
Any U.S. accredited university
Questions:
Katelyn Monaco at (253) 365-8701 or katelyn@foundation649.com
FirstLine Funding Group, a division of First Bank & Trust, will annually award scholarships to students attending accredited colleges, universities, or technical schools in the fall. Scholarships will be awarded at $1,000 each, and the number of scholarships awarded will vary.
Eligibility:
- Be a high school senior at Madison High School or full-time undergraduate student attending Dakota State University, both located in Madison, SD.
- Have not previously received a FirstLine Funding Group scholarship.
- Employees and members of the Board of Directors or Advisory Board of Directors of First Bank & Trust, its affiliates, and the immediate families (spouse, parents, siblings, and children, and each of their respective spouses regardless of where they live) and persons living in the households of each of these individuals, whether related or not, are not eligible.
Applicable Institutions:
Any Accredited College, University or Technical College
Questions:
Lori Gustaf at 605-427-4535 or scholarships@bankeasy.com
The South Dakota Education Association/NEA is calling for applications for the new Gordon Horgen Memorial Scholarship, which will be awarded to Native American students who plan on entering the teaching profession. The Association may annually award up to four $750 scholarships for each academic year. The scholarship is renewable for up to four years.
Eligibility:
- Be an college freshman or sophomore in Fall 2026.
- Have a GPA of 3 .0 on a 4.0 scale or be in the top quarter of his/her class as of January of their graduation year.
- Be a student in a South Dakota education institution.
- Be accepted and/or enrolled in a South Dakota college or university.
- Be enrolled in a Tribe or descendent of a Tribal enrollee. (refer to Indian Health Service/BIA requirements)
Required Field of Study:
Education
Applicable Institutions:
Any South Dakota College or University
Questions:
Sandra Waltman at 605-224-9263 or sandra.waltman@sdea.org
First Bank & Trust will annually award scholarships to students attending accredited colleges, universities, or technical schools in the fall 2026. Scholarships will be awarded at $1,000 each, and the number of scholarships awarded will vary by location.
Eligibility:
- Be a First Bank & Trust checking and/or savings account holder (account must be opened before the application deadline).
- Be enrolled full-time and attending an accredited post-secondary institution for the fall 2026 semester.
- Have not previously received a First Bank & Trust scholarship.
- Employees and members of the Board of Directors or Advisory Board of Directors of First Bank & Trust, its affiliates, and the immediate families (spouse, parents, siblings, and children, and each of their respective spouses regardless of where they live) and persons living in the households of each of these individuals, whether related or not, are not eligible
Applicable Institutions:
Any Accredited Post-Secondary Institution
Questions:
Scholarship Selection Committee at 800-843-1552 or scholarships@bankeasy.com
The South Dakota Education Association/NEA awards scholarships to outstanding students who are planning on entering the teaching profession. This is a four-year scholarship that awards $750 per year.
Eligibility:
Must be South Dakota high school seniors or college sophomores who plan to enter the teaching profession and attend a South Dakota college or university.
Must be the daughter/son or granddaughter/grandson of an active SDEA member or an SDEA-Retired member.
Required Field of Study:
Education
Applicable Institutions:
South Dakota College or University
Questions:
Sandra Waltman at 605-224-9263 or sandra.waltman@sdea.org
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 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
