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 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
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
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
Ardell Bjugstad Scholarship Program is for Native American High School Seniors who are enrolled members of a federally recognized Indian tribe whose reservation is located in South Dakota or North Dakota. It is preferred that the student be a high school senior planning to earn a degree in agriculture or natural resources or a related field, though other majors would be accepted. Students can apply using the SD Board of Regents’ Scholarship Application Portal.
Eligibility:
- Applicants must be Native American High School Seniors who are enrolled members of a federally recognized Indian tribe whose reservation is located in South Dakota or North Dakota.
- Eligible majors/fields: Agriculture or natural resources or related field (preferred)
Applicable Institutions:
- ANY technical college or university
Questions:
The Lawrence Novotny Scholarship Essay Competition has chosen to provide scholarships to high school seniors who are heading to college and current college or trade school students. Students of any field of study can apply and are available to those who will attend or are already enrolled in an accredited college, university, or trade school in the state of South Dakota. One high school senior will be awarded a cash scholarship of $250 and one currently enrolled college student will be awarded a cash scholarship of $500. To apply, applicants must complete a packet of information which will include a completed essay on the following topic: Why is teaching 2SLGBTQ+ history in school important.
Applicable Institutions:
ANY technical college or university
Questions:
Lane Madsen at 712-898-1498 or info@eqsd.org
Established by Allan and Adeline Osmann in 1998, this scholarship is designed to help high school graduates of Native American descent pursue higher education. The Osmann’s had many community interests, but they were most enthusiastic about supporting children and education. This scholarship is one way they can do both.
The Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation is proud to award more than 70 scholarships to deserving students each year. Whether you’re preparing to graduate from high school, wrapping up a general equivalency diploma, or working toward your undergraduate or graduate degree, the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation is proud to partner with passionate donors to administer a wide variety of competitive scholarships to help you achieve your educational goals.
The scholarship application window is December 15 – March 15.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Applicants must be graduating seniors of South Dakota high schools who are enrolled members of a Native American tribe
- Minimum high school GPA: 2.5
Applicable Institutions:
BHSU, DSU, NSU, SDSMT, SDSU, USD, LATC, MTC, STC, WDTC
Questions:
This scholarship was established in 1997 to honor the memory of 11-year-old Kimberly Rose Means, who died in a tragic car accident in June 1981 on her way to participate in the annual Freedom Run at the South Dakota State Penitentiary. Among the Sioux people, Kimberly symbolizes all that is good and honorable. She knew that the price of a dream worth having is the cost of seeing that dream realized.
The Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation is proud to award more than 70 scholarships to deserving students each year. Whether you’re preparing to graduate from high school, wrapping up a general equivalency diploma, or working toward your undergraduate or graduate degree, the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation is proud to partner with passionate donors to administer a wide variety of competitive scholarships to help you achieve your educational goals.
The scholarship application window is December 15 – March 15.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Applicants must be graduating high school seniors who are enrolled members of a South Dakota Native American Tribe
- Minimum high school GPA: 0
- Participates in school and community activities
Applicable Institutions:
ANY technical college or university
Questions:
This scholarship was established in honor of 10 Teton Lakota young men who, in 1862, risked their lives to save a group of white women and children who had been taken captive during the Dakota Conflict. This scholarship was established for descendants of the Fool Soldiers by relatives of the captives they rescued. This scholarship offers multiple awards.
The Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation is proud to award more than 70 scholarships to deserving students each year. Whether you’re preparing to graduate from high school, wrapping up a general equivalency diploma, or working toward your undergraduate or graduate degree, the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation is proud to partner with passionate donors to administer a wide variety of competitive scholarships to help you achieve your educational goals.
The scholarship application window is December 15 – March 15.
Eligibility:
- Scholarship may be awarded on Financial Need
- Minimum high school GPA: 2.0
- Applicants must be descendants of the Fool Soldiers.
Applicable Institutions:
ANY technical college or university
Questions:
The Cobell Undergraduate Scholarship Opportunity is a non-renewable competitive scholarship that provides scholarship support to enrolled members of US Federally-recognized tribes with strong academic records who can demonstrate financial need and have not yet earned a four-year Bachelor’s degree. Available for students planning to attend a non-profit, public or private and accredited institution as a full-time degree seeking student. Duplicate degrees cannot be funded (i.e. No second Bachelor’s degrees). The award amount can be up to $5,000 a year for first time applicants, and up to $10,000 for returning Cobell Scholars. (Though requirements state that students must have a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA, a lower GPA may be considered)
Eligibility:
Scholarship selection may be based on financial need
Applicable Institutions:
ANY technical college or university
Questions:
Gary Pierce at 505-313-0032 or scholarships@cobellscholar.org.