The Schellpeper Family Scholarship is a progressive, multi-year award for outstanding high school seniors pursuing health science majors at South Dakota State University (SDSU).
Eligibility:
- Awarded to outstanding high school seniors each year based on GPA and extracurricular activities.
- Students must major in a health science career field.
- At a minimum, students selected must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and have extensive leadership and extracurricular involvement.
Award Breakdown
Progressive amount — $2,000 first year, $3,000 second year, $4,000 third year and $5,000 fourth year for a total of $14,000.
Applicable Institutions:
SDSU
Questions:
Lisa Schramm
605-688-4121
lisa.schramm@sdstate.edu
The Wokini Scholarship at South Dakota State University (SDSU) provides financial support and holistic resources for tribally enrolled Native American students, offering up to $5,000 per year for five years.
Eligibility:
Students who are tribally enrolled in a federally recognized tribe in the United States, including Alaskan Natives, are eligible for the Wokini scholarship.
Applicable Institutions:
SDSU
Questions:
Lisa Schramm
605-688-4121
lisa.schramm@sdstate.edu
The Smithfield Foods Scholarship is a needs-based scholarship offered at South Dakota State University. The amount is determined by the SDSU Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, based on the unmet financial need demonstrated on the FAFSA form, up to $7500. This scholarship is renewable for a total of four years based on FAFSA calculations reviewed annually.
Eligibility:
- Students must be admitted to an undergraduate program at SDSU and be dependent children or grandchildren of current or retired employees of Smithfield Foods.
- Employees must have worked with the company a minimum of 18 months for their child or dependent grandchild to be eligible.
Applicable Institutions:
SDSU
Questions:
Lisa Schramm
605-688-4121
lisa.schramm@sdstate.edu
The Richard Hagen Minerva Harvey Memorial state scholarship program is for enrolled members of American Indian tribes. Once approved, recipients will be authorized to receive up to four years of funding, depending on year of attendance. Funds are to be used for students attending a public or non-public accredited university, college or technical college located in South Dakota. The Hagen Harvey Scholarship Board will determine the number of scholarships to be awarded.
This scholarship provides $6,000 over four years for study. Annual scholarship award amounts include a minimum of $1,000 for each of the first two years of attendance, a minimum of $1,500 for the third year of attendance, and a minimum of $2,500 for the fourth year of attendance. Scholarship recipients must be enrolled the equivalent of at least 12 credit hours per semester and maintain a cumulative 2.5 grade point average during the course of the scholarship period.
Eligibility:
- Graduation from an accredited South Dakota high school
- Apply within 5 years after high school graduation or within 1 year after release from active military duty (if that release is within 5 years of high school graduation)
- Be an enrolled member of an American Indian tribe
- Must attend a public or non-public accredited university, college or technical institute located in South Dakota
Applicable Institutions:
Funds are to be used for students attending a public or non-public accredited university, college or technical institute located in South Dakota.
Questions:
Melissa Bothun at 605-295-0433 or
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
The Mines Merit Scholarship Program is a competitive, merit-based award for incoming freshmen at South Dakota Mines, recognizing academic excellence with scholarships based on GPA and ACT scores.
Eligibility:
Incoming freshmen who have been accepted by January 1, have a 3.0 unweighted GPA, and at least a 24 ACT math subscore or 1160 SAT math subscore are eligible for a Merit Scholarship, which ranges from $1,000 to $7,000 per year. It can be renewable for 3 additional years.
Applicable Institutions:
SD Mines
Questions:
Molly Moore
605-394-2414
admissions@sdsmt.edu
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 MTC Alumni Legacy Scholarship is designed to benefit the children, grandchildren and siblings of MTC’s alumni.
Eligibility:
An incoming student whose parent, grandparent, step-parent, brother or sister graduated from MTC is eligible to receive this scholarship.
Applicable Institutions:
Mitchell Technical College
Questions:
Robin Jacobsen
605.995.7144
robin.jacobsen@mitchelltech.edu
