Helpful Hints When Applying for Scholarships:

1. Know the deadlines

2. Check eligibility

3. Make sure you have all required information.  This may include: GPA, class rank, ACT scores, transcripts, and references.

4. Check out the college you will be attending for scholarship opportunities.  All SD Colleges have scholarship opportunities.  More information can be found in SD College Links section.

5. Check the scholarship page to see if it include previous winners essays for inspiration.

Never pay to enter a scholarship!

Steps for writing an essay:

1. Know your audience

2. Create a thesis-your entire essay should revolve around this.

3. Brag-create a brag sheet of all of your accomplishments.  This can also be given to your references to assist them in writing a letter for you.

4. Stand out-what makes you unique?

5. Every word counts-check your grammar and usage-do not use slang!

6. Type your essay and have someone proofread it to make sure it matches what the scholarship is asking for.

Ask for references.  Have 2-3 people write you references.  These can be teachers, administrators, ministerial personnel, coaches, activity leaders and more.  Create a brag sheet that lists your accomplishments, activities, community service, coursework achievements and anything else that makes you stand out.  Hand this to your references to help them when writing up a letter.

Build Dakota

Scholarships.com

College Board

Federal Student Aid-Scholarships

College Express

Fastweb

Petersons

Going Merry

SDMyLife

Dakotas Area Electrical Apprenticeship and Training Fund-This is a 5 year program where students learn through on the job training.  

SD Legislative Page:  This program allows students to observe the lawmaking process in action. 

Preferred deadline Oct. 6, 2023 Final deadline Oct. 20, 2023

Applications can be found on-line or by asking Mrs. Larson.

US Senate Youth Program-2 students from each school will move on to the State level.  Juniors or seniors that apply must hold a leadership position within the school.

Application Information: October 6, 2023 deadline

Kibble Equipment-Full Ride Program for General Diesel 

Davis-Bahcall Scholar Program: Any Senior interested in STEM can apply for a 2 week summer program.

Pioneer Equipment Dealers Association-scholarship information and loan forgiveness for students looking at working in the equipment dealership business.

Mount Marty and Avera Health Systems $10,000/year scholarship program.  Must be attending Mount Marty, going into Nursing and work for Avera for 3 years after graduation.  For more information: MMU/Avera; Application

DoSomething.org has monthly scholarship opportunities.

Scholarship Points Scholarship: Random drawings every month.

Nitro College Scholarship: Monthly drawings for $2000

Alert Magazine Scholarship-No deadline dates.

BOR Scholarships: (State) Varying Amounts
-Critical Needs April 15
-Dakota Corps link to application Dec. 15
-Jump Start Sept. 1
-SD Opportunity Sept. 1 and January 15
-Need Based Scholarship

-Marlin R. Scarborough: The Marlin R. Scarborough Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a student who is
classified as a junior at a public university at the time funding is received. Each South Dakota public university nominates one student for the scholarship.

-Ardell Bjugstad Scholarship: The Ardell Bjugstad Scholarship Program for Native American Students provides support for freshman Native American Students who are pursuing studies in agribusiness, agricultural production, agricultural sciences, or a natural resources degree at any postsecondary institution. 

 -Annis Irene Fowler/ Kaden Scholarship: awarded to first-time entering freshman at BHSU, DSU, NSU or USD and who will select elementary education as their major field. Special consideration is given to students with demonstrated motivational ability, a disability, or who are self-supporting.

• "Be Bold" No Essay Scholarship-$25,000 (National) Sept. 1

• QuestBridge- Full Scholarships to 42 leading colleges like Yale, Stanford, Duke, and more. Sept. 26

• Coca Cola Scholarship: $20,000 (National) Sept. 30

Sanford Health Scholarships: Varying Scholarships and amounts-- Varying Deadlines (check website)

American Legion Scholarships: vary scholarships and amounts-- Varying Deadlines (check website)

Great Clips Scholarship Sept 2 or  March 31 depending on Semester

• Dual Credit Scholarship-$300 (Local for Juniors and Seniors) Awarded in January October 1

• The United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP)- Two students from each state will be selected to attend the online program and each will receive a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship.  (Principal Nominated)

• SD Legislative Page October  (Priority)

• National Honor Society Scholarship  opens-See December for due date and link.

• AES Scholarship-Any college major is eligible. (National) October 8

• Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce: Students actively involved in 4-H, Agriculture or the Watertown Farm and Home Show. $1000-$2000 (Regional)       October 13

• AmericanMuscle Automotive Scholarship: (National) $2500 Oct. 15 for Spring enrollment

• American Truck's Scholarship: (National) $2500--for building trades Oct. 15 for Spring enrollment

• Heisman High School Scholarship October 17

• IFA Foundation Scholarships: Multiple Scholarships (National) October 31

• Voice of Democracy Scholarship: Up to $30,000 (State/National) October 31

South Dakota Farmer’s Union Scholarship: $500 (State)     Nov. 1

Builder's Association Scholarship:  Must being going into construction related field Nov. 1

Future Designer Scholarship: (National) $2000 Nov. 1

Create and Go Design Your Future: (National) $1000 Nov. 1

Prudential Emerging Visionaries:  (National) 9-12th grade students eligible. Nov. 4

Distinguished Young Women: (State and National) $500 for state and increases for national. Nov. 8

National Society Daughters of the American Revolution-DAR Good Citizen Scholarship Nov. 10

• Local/State/National-up to $5000 and a trip to Washington DC

• Staff select 3 seniors showing dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism

• Senior class chooses one of the 3 nominees

• Chosen senior writes an essay

Elks National Foundation Scholarship: Up to $12,500/year (National)         Nov. 13

Photo Journalism Scholarship: (National) Nov. 15

SD Elks Vocational Scholarship: $1000 (State)   Nov. 14

Jack Kent Cooke Scholarships:  up to $40,000   Nov. 16

Horatio Alger Career & Technical Scholarship: (National) Opens in November
This scholarship is given on a rolling basis through July 15 or until all scholarships are given.  (Apply early)

University of South Dakota Scholarships         Dec. 1 (Priority Nov. 15)

South Dakota State University Dec. 1 (priority deadline)

Dell Scholar's Program: (National) $20,000  Dec. 1
Must be in Upward Bound

National Honor Society Scholarship-Up to  $25,000 (National) Dec. 1

Hagan Scholarship Foundation: (National) $48,000 Dec. 1

DAR Essay Contest (National) Dec. 1

National Space Club Scholarship: going into STEM related field, $10,000 (National) Dec. 3

Day County Conservation District Scholarship: $200 (Local) Dec. 9
      - Corrected link for scholarship essay: https://www.sdresourceconcerns.org/
      -See below in local scholarships-2022 Day County Conservation District

Black Hills Stock Show Foundation Scholarship: Varying Amounts Dec. 18

Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation: (State) Varying amounts OPENS Dec. 15

Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship: (National) $40,000 Dec. 15

Equitable Excellence Scholarship: (National) Dec. 15 (Apply Early)

Burger King/McLamore Foundation Scholarship: (National) $1000-$50,000     Dec. 15

Foot Locker Scholar Athlete: (National) $20,000 OPENS Dec. 14

L. Ron Hubbard Writers and Illustrators of the Future: (National) Dec. 31

SD Association of Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling Contractors Scholarship Dec. 31

Around the Corner Scholarship: $1000 drawing in December and June Dec. 31

Build Dakota Full tuition for select programs (State)-Full tuition cost Opens January 1

Foundation for Rural Service Opens January 1

Profile in Courage Essay Contests: (National) $500-$10,000 January 1

GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship: (National) January 5

FFA Scholarships: (National) Varying Amounts January 14

Grow Ag Leaders Scholarship: (National) $1500 January 14

Courage in Profile Essay: (National) Up to $10,000 January 14

SD Engineering Society Scholarship: Must attend SDSU or SDSM&T January 14

Black Hills State University Scholarship January 15

SD School of Mines and Technology Scholarships January 15

SD Association of Environmental Professionals Scholarship: (State) January 15

SD Solid Waste Management Association Scholarship January 15

Eastern Chapter of SD Engineering Society (State) $2000 January 15

AMVets Scholarship: (American Legion Auxiliary) Opens January 20

Dakotaland Federal Credit Union Scholarship: (State) $1000 January 21
-Must be a member

Taco Bell Live Mas Scholarship: (National) January 20

US JCI Senate Foundation Scholarship January 22

Davis-Bahcall-HS Seniors or College Freshman interested STEM Fields-Summer Program           January 29 

DAR National Scholarship January 31

Union Plus Scholarship January 31

Discover Student Loans Scholarship (National)-$5000 January 31

Legends for Kids Scholarship: (Regional) --Discontinued and re-evaluating the scholarship.

Women in Mathematics/Math of America Essay/Interview: (National) February 1
Open for students in middle school through undergrad

SME Education Foundation Scholarships: (National) February 1
Must be looking at a manufacturing engineer degree or similar.

Dakota Corps Scholarship: (State): Full ride for critical need work areas. February 1

Nancy Etz Scholarship: (National) $1000 February 1

Epsilon Sigma Alpha Foundation Scholarships: February 1

South Dakota State DAR Scholarship for Military Descendants (see bulletin board in Study Hall) February 1

ROTC Scholarships: (National) February 4

Elks Legacy Scholarship: (National) any child/grandchild of an Elks Member February 7

SD High School Coaches Association Scholarship: (State) multiple scholarships February 10

Dakota Energy Line Worker Scholarship February 10

Dakota Energy Electrician Scholarship February 10

Duane Snaza Memorial Scholarship: (Local) February 15

BASIN Electric Scholarship: (Regional) February 14

SD DAR Scholarship for Military Descendants: (State) $500 February 11

SDSU Oral Interp Scholarship: (SDSU Student planning on being in OI) $500-$1000 February 15

Poet Scholarship: $5000 February 15

Ty Eschenbaum Foundation Scholarship: (State) February 15

Ramia Boersma Memorial Scholarship: (State) $750 February 15

South Dakota Bankers Foundation: (State) $2000 February 15

Reliabank Member Scholarship: (Regional) $500 February 15

USDA 1890 Scholars Program February 15

Gordon A. Rich-Parent must be work in the financial services industry (National) February 16

Stratford Community Theater Scholarship February 17

Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship: (National) $40,000 February 18

SD Cattlemen's Foundation Scholarship: (State) varying amounts February 20

Women's Cyber Security Scholarship: (National) varying amount February 22

Medical Assisting Scholarship: (National) $500 February 22

USDA 1994 Tribal Scholars Program February 22

Yankton College Scholarship: Must have a family member who attended Yankton College February 24

Venture Communications: 2 Scholarships February 25

FFA Scholarships: (State) multiple scholarships and varying amounts February 26

Annis I. Fowler/Kaden Scholarship: (State) Future educators February 26

James Valley Telecommunications Scholarship (Must be a member of JVT) (Local) -$2000 February 28

 Careers in Agriculture Scholarship: $1000 February 28

Scholars Helping Collars: (National) varying amounts February 28

Evie Kahnke Scholarship: (Regional) $500 February 28

National Society of Professional Engineers: (National)-varying amounts varying dates

Northern State University Scholarship-varying amounts March 1

SD American Legion Auxiliary: (State) varying amounts-Jr. Membership required for most March 1

Children of Warriors: WWI, WWII descendants March 1

American Legion Auxiliary: (National) varying amounts March 1

Wurth Electronics Scholarship: (State) $2000/University and $1500/Technical March 1

SD-First at SDSMT-up to $5000/year-need based for 1st generation students March 1

American Agri-Women Scholarships: (National) must be the daughter of a farmer/rancher. March 1

EEqual Scholarship: (National) March 1

Eagle Scout of the Year Scholarship: (National) $10,000 March 1

Northern International Livestock Exposition Scholarships: Varying scholarships and amounts March 2

Venture Communications Scholarship: (Regional) $750 March 3

KXLG Johnson Application: (Local) $500 and must be pursuing a business degree. March 4

KXLG David J. Law Scholarship: (Local) $500 and must be pursuing a Journalism degree. March 4

Jerry Grotewold Scholarship: (Local) $500 and must be pursuing an agricultural degree. March 4

SDTA Scholarship

Venture Communications-SDTA: (State) $500 March 5

First Dakota Bank Scholarship March 7

Dacotah Bank Scholarship: (Regional up to $10,000) March 10

YWPA Zonta International Scholarship (Local, State, National)-varying amounts March 11

Bellator Titans Motorcycle Club: (State) $1500-See below (Extended to March 31) March 12

SD Sheriff's Association Scholarship: (State) $500 2nd Friday of March

Perry and Doreen Evans Scholarship: (Local/State) $5000 renewable/$2500 renewable March 15

Girl Scout Gold Award Scholarship: (National) $1000 March 15

Horatio Alger Scholarship: Juniors only up to $25,000         March 15

Road to Success-Grinnell Auto Insurance: (National) $1000 March 15

Horatio Alger Career & Technical Scholarship: (National) Opens  March 15, 2024
This scholarship is given on a rolling basis through July 15 or until all scholarships are given.  (Apply early)

Amy P. Todd Education Scholarship: (State) $500 March 15

SD Firefighters Association Scholarship: (State) $1000  March 15

Federal Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program: (National) $200-$1000 for grades k-12 March 15
SD Flyer for Jr. Duck Stamp Contest.
                                                        The 2019-20 winner is from Wallace SD!

AEOP Scholarship: (State)-$500-See below March 15

BMW Engineering Scholarship: (National) $1500/year March 15

Coach Russ Morrell Memorial Scholarship: (State) $1000 March 15

Stanley Technology Scholarship: (National) up to $5000 March 15

Grand Lodge Scholarship: (State) $1000 March 15

First Premier Bank: (Regional) must have a checking/savings account March 19

Resource Conservation Speech Contest:  Total of $2300. For grades 9-12  (State/National)         March 27

National Poetry Contest Scholarship: (National) $500 March 31, June 30, Sept. 30 Dec. 31

SDSTE Scholarship: (State) $1000 rubric March 31

LATC Scholarships: Varying amounts for the 2022-23 school year March 31

Black Hills Homebuilders Assoc. Scholarship: (State) $1000 or $500 March 31

SDACDE Scholarship: (State) $500 March 31
Must be pursuing and Ag. related degree.

FDDC Scholarship: (State)-see below March 31

SD Masons Scholarship: (State) $2000 March 31

Huron Medical Commitment Scholarship (State)-commit to work at Huron Regional upon graduation March 31

CCR Vocational Scholarship: (Regional) $1000 March 31

Mike Rowe Work Ethic Scholarship: (National) March 31

Folds of Honor Scholarship: (National) up to $5000 March 31 

Web Water Scholarship: Application and Information Sheet and Scoring March 31

 South Dakota Association of Conservation District Employees     March 31
Scholarship Application Criteria

Avera Scholarships March 31/April 1

Day County Coyote Hunt Scholarship: (State) $1000 April 1

SD 4-H Scholarships: (State) varying scholarships and amounts April 1

American Fire Sprinkler Association-$1000 (National) April 1

Ty Eschenbaum Scholarship-(State) April 1

USA Softball of SD Scholarship April 1

Scottish Rite Book Grant: (Regional) $250 April 1

Donald H. Quimby Memorial Scholarship: (State) April 1

SDATAT Scholarship: (Towns and Townships) varying amounts April 1

Inez Taylor Scholarship: (State) pursuing nursing April 1

DJ Fischer Foundation Scholarship and SD Aviation: (State) April 1

BRBA Scholarship: for those going building trades, electrical, plumbing April 1

NFU Scholarship: (National) April 1

Stuck at Prom Scholarship   Opens April 1

SD Weed Fighters Scholarship (State) $500-Ag related April 2

SD Society for Technology in Education: (State) $500 (See below) April 2

Sanford Health Network Scholarship: $2000 April 7

Knights Templar Scholarship: (State)-For Technical College- bound seniors April 14

Kids Chance of SD Scholarship April 15

Full Circle Ag Careers in Agriculture Scholarship: (Region) $500-$1000 April 15

Delventhal Law Scholarship: $1000 (National) -Must be going into Law field    April 15

Sheriff Dale Elsen Memorial: (Regional)-looking at criminal justice or social work. April 15

Plains Commerce Bank Scholarship: (Regional) $1000 April 15

Serving Others Scholarship: (State) up to $10,000 April 15

PEO Scholarship: (Local)  Must be mailed and ask for address from Mrs. Larson. April 16

South Dakota Retailers Association Scholarship: (State) up to $3000 April 19

Deanna Mauck E-Learning Scholarship: (State) April 23
Must have taken e-learning courses and going to NSU-$250.

McCormick and Murphy Law Firm: (National) $500 April 30

Farmer's Union Stanley Moore: (Regional) April 30

Celebrate the West Art Contest: 9-12th Grade April 30

Daughters of American Agriculture Scholarship: (National) $1000 May 1

AGC Highway Heavy Utilities Scholarship: (State) May 2

SD Opportunity Scholarship (Guaranteed for those completing coursework and 24+ ACT) $7500 Before School Ends

Western Governors' HS Art Competition (9-12 Grade) May 21
See flyer below.

B. Davis Scholarship May 22

Honors Grad U Scholarship:  Up to $5000 (National) Initial information is due May 28

SkillsUSA Scholarship-For Construction: $2500 (National) May 31

SDATC Scholarship for Tech/College Students: $2000-must complete 2 semesters of post-secondary May 31

PB&J Scholarship: (National) 2/State $500-$1000 May 31

SD Opportunity-$6500 over 4 years (State) Recommended Dates: June 1 for Fall Semester and Nov. 1 for Spring Semester

SDIAAA Scholarship: (State) $750 June 1

AITP Scholarship (Information Technology) June 1

SDTA Scholarship: (State) $1500-2000  Cover Letter Application June 15

AmericanMuscle Automotive Scholarship: (National) $2500 June 15 for Fall enrollment

American Truck's Scholarship: (National) $2500--for building trades June 15 for Fall enrollment

BigSun Athletic Scholarship: (National)  $500 June 19

Abbot and Fenner Scholarship: (National) $1000 June 12

SDGA Junior Golf Scholarship: (State) $1500 June 30

Around the Corner Scholarship: $1000 drawing in December and June June 30

SDSU Balanced Man Scholarship: $1000-Incoming SDSU male students June 30

Horatio Alger Career and Technical Scholarship: $2500 July 15

No Essay Scholarship: (National) $2000 August 31

CorTrust Bank Scholarship : College student going into banking or finance. March 15

Wilfred Jaspers: see link above June 1

The Voyager Scholarship: National March 22