The United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) application is a competitive process for high school juniors and seniors to earn a $10,000 scholarship and attend Washington Week in D.C. as student delegates. Applications are managed by each state’s Department of Education and typically due in early fall.
104 students, two from each state, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense Education Activity will be chosen to attend this comprehensive education, leadership, and public service program. They will participate in an intensive week-long study of the federal government and its leaders, meeting with their U.S. Senators, the President, Cabinet Secretaries, a Justice of the Supreme Court, senior members of the national media and other key policymakers. Each delegate will also receive a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship given in the name of the United States Senate, with encouragement to pursue studies in history, government, and public affairs.
Eligibility:
- Grade Level: Must be a high school junior or senior.
- Enrollment: Must be enrolled for the entire academic year in a public, private, charter, or approved homeschool high school.
- Residency: Must reside in the state they are applying to represent. Military dependents attending school in the U.S. apply under their state of residence; those overseas apply through DoDEA.
Applicable Institutions:
All Schools
Questions:
Melissa Bothun- United States Senate Youth Program
605-295-0433
Melissa.Bothun@state.sd.us
The Gateway Scholarship at Mitchell Technical College is a financial award designed to give recipients with no manufacturing background the ability to start a career.
Eligibility:
- Awardees will attend MTC on a full ride to pursue an AAS Degree in Automation Controls/SCADA. Housing and an on-campus meal plan are included.
- Upon successful completion of the two-year program, recipients will have a job with empirical as a Systems Technician.
- A signed, two-year work agreement is required.
Applicable Institutions:
MTC
Questions:
Michelle Ware
605-217-8164
mware@empiricalfoods.com
South Dakota Farmers Union annually gives recognition to young people who commit to a South Dakota college, university or technical institute, and whose parents are current members of Farmers Union.
Farmers Union starts investing in youth at age 5 and that investment is never ending as they progress through their education. We are excited for our youth as they transition into the next chapter and are thankful to continue our support for their future. Three $500 scholarships are awarded each year to deserving students.
Eligibility:
- Current member of South Dakota Farmers Union.
- Senior in high school planning to attend or a current freshman at a SD post-secondary institution.
- Completed application (paper or online submission) must be received by 8 a.m. on November 14, 2025.
- Any late or incomplete applications will not be reviewed
- Applicants can only win once, past winners are not eligible
Applicable Institutions:
All Schools
Questions:
Samantha Bowman
605-554-3022
SBowman@sdfu.org
The Agricultural Graduate School Scholarship, sponsored by Travelers Motor Club, is designed to help retain talent in South Dakota to support South Dakota’s agriculture industry.
Eligibility:
- It is open to students from South Dakota, pursuing a graduate degree in research, animal science, agriculture business or agriculture education at an accredited South Dakota school.
- Eligible graduate students include on-campus and distance education students who are pursuing any master’s or doctoral program, agriculture teacher certification program (CERT/FCSC) or graduate certificate program (GCERT).
Applicable Institutions:
Accredited South Dakota Schools
Questions:
Samantha Bowman
6055543022
SBowman@sdfu.org
The SD Farmers Union “Farming For The Future” media challenge offers a scholarship program for college and high school seniors interested in agriculture, aiming to bridge the gap between farm and fork. Participants will develop communication skills and advocate for South Dakota agriculture by sharing personal experiences or exploring agricultural topics through social media. Over seven weeks, students will network with industry professionals and engage in weekly challenges focused on specific agricultural products or issues, earning mini-scholarships and accumulating points towards larger scholarships. The top five participants will also have the opportunity to attend the South Dakota Farmers Union State Convention.
Eligibility:
Must be current college student or high school seniors who is interested in agriculture.
Applicable Institutions:
All Schools
Questions:
Samantha Bowman
605.554.3022
SBowman@sdfu.org
The Gene Haas Scholarship was established in 2017 with funds received from the Gene Haas Foundation. The scholarship will be given to students enrolled in a machining-based training and/or engineering program at the postsecondary level.
Eligibility:
Degree(s) required: Machining & Manufacturing and Automation Engineering
Applicable Institutions:
Mitchell Technical College
Questions:
Robin Jacobsen at 605.995.7144
robin.jacobsen@mitchelltech.edu
South Dakota Cattlewomen (SDCW) is dedicated to promoting the beef industry in South Dakota. SDCW will award two – $1,000 scholarships to a young person attending or planning to attend an institution of higher learning in the upcoming semester.
This scholarship can be used at any accredited university, 2 year or 4-year college or technical school.
POSTMARK DEADLINE is JULY 1, 2025. Please go to the linked URL for more detailed information on requirements.
Contact Information:
Brenda Dreyer at 605-290-8223 or bdreyer@midco.net
Row Zero is offering a $1,000 scholarship to one student each year pursuing an undergraduate course of study in a field focused on data and analytics. To apply, students must write an essay (500 word limit) or record a YouTube video (2 minute limit) about your career goals, passion for analytical thinking, and the role spreadsheets have played and will play in your career.
Field of Study Requirements:
Student must be pursuing an undergraduate course of study in a field focused on data analytics. Analytical programs include but are not limited to accounting, economics, engineering, business, math, statistics, finance, data analytics, data science, computer science, information systems, information science, or any other analytical field.
Applicable Institutions:
ANY technical college or university
Contact Information:
Mark Tressler at (715) 602-0686 or contact@rowzero.io
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 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:
Minimum high school or college GPA: 2.5
Applicable Institutions:
ANY technical college or university
Questions:
Greg Josten at 605-390-8306 or gregjosten22@gmail.com
