Post Secondary Planning

• This scholarship is available to high school seniors who plan to attend a college/university in the United States after graduation.

• Minimum unweighted GPA of 3.0 required.

• 150 scholarships worth $20,000 awarded
• Application and additional information, click here.
• Deadline: October 2, 2023.

The United States Senate Youth Program brings the highest-level officials from each branch of government to meet with an outstanding group of young leaders — two high school juniors or seniors from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) — for an intensive week-long education and leadership program to be held either in Washington, D.C., or online.

• The program is merit-based and highly competitive.
• Each student will also receive a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship with encouragement to pursue coursework in history and political science.
• See Eligibility Requirements can be found here. 
• United States Senate Youth Program's website is available here.
• Deadline for this scholarship program is October 6, 2023.

• This award is available to high school seniors and all students attending a post secondary educational facility.

• You are not required to be taking Engineering courses to be eligible.

• Essay required.
•  $500 scholarship awarded
• Application and additional information, click here. 
• Deadline: October 8, 2023.

This program recognizes and rewards male and female high school seniors who accomplish tremendous feats in the classroom, on the field, and most importantly, within their communities.

• Scholarships ranging from $1,000-$10,000 are awarded.
• Applicants must have a minimum weighted GPA of 3.0, participation in at least one sport, and demonstrated leadership at school and in the community. 
• Application and additional information can be found here. 
• Deadline: October 17, 2023.

• The purpose of the BIG Idea Competition is to promote entrepreneurship, spur creative thinking and encourage students to start a business. 
• Students will create and submit their business ideas. Of the submissions, 8 finalists will be required to make a 6-minute presentation during the final competition. 
• Prizes, ranging from $100-$1,000 in cash or $500-$2,500 in scholarships to Northern State or SD Mines are awarded. 
• For additional information, please fist the BIG Idea Competition website.

The Dakota Dreams website was launched by the SDBOR and SDDOE to support students, families, and educators as they navigate the college preparation process.

Included on the website is the Statewide Scholarship Bulletin Board - a central place for students to search scholarship opportunities. 

Please click here to access the resources listed above. 

Buy-Rite Beauty will be awarding a $1,000 scholarship to a hairstylist or cosmetology student who best exemplifies their core beliefs. 

• To apply, students will submit an essay (500-1,000 words) detailing their most meaningful achievement and how it relates to their future within the beauty industry.
• For additional information including submission details, click here. 
• Deadline: November 1, 2023.

• The Elks National Foundation will award 500 four-year scholarships (ranging from $1,000-$7,500 per year) to the highest-rated applicants in the 2024 competition. Males and female students compete separately. 
•  Applicants must be United States citizens and are judged on scholarship, leadership and financial need.
• For the application and additional information, click here. 
• Deadline: November 13, 2023. 

The Cooke College Scholarship Program is an undergraduate scholarship program available to high-achieving high school seniors with financial need who seek to attend and graduate from the nation's best four-year colleges and universities.

This highly competitive scholarship includes:

• Up to $55,000 per year to attend a four-year accredited undergraduate school.
• Ability to pursue any area of study.
• Personal advising about selecting a college and navigating financial aid.
• Multifaceted advising about how to transition to college and maximize the student experience.

Click here for more information. The deadline to apply is November 16, 2023.

Kibble Equipment has partnered with Lake Area Tech (Watertown, SD), NDSCS (Whapeton, ND) and Northeast Iowa Community College (Calmar, IA) to provide students who wish to become a Diesel tech within the Kibble Equipment family. 

Depending on the program, you can be eligible for (but not limited to):

• 100% tuition paid up front by Kibble Equipment
• Paid internships
• Books and fees paid by Kibble Equipment
• Laptop computer provided

Applicants will be committing to 3-5 years of post-graduation work commitment with Kibble if they are accepted and enroll in the program.

For more information, please visit their website or contact Shane Uttenhove at Careers@KibbleEq.com or 605-2237-3956. 

Deadline: December 1, 2023.

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution hosts a Patriots of the American Revolution Essay Contest for high school students (grades 9-12). A 800-1,200 word essay about a figure (of the student's choosing) from the era of the American Revolution (1773-1783) is required. 

Entries that make it to the national level of the contest are eligible to win a monetary prize up to $1,000.

For additional information and essay requirements, click here. 

Deadline: December 1, 2023.

• This scholarship is for students pursuing a degree at a participating South Dakota college or university that will prepare the student to work in a critical need occupation (see website for details). Recipients also agree to remain and work in South Dakota for as many years as the scholarship was received, plus one year.
• Applicants must have a composite ACT score of 27 or greater (or the SAT equivalent) as well as a GPA of 2.8 or greater.
• Full-ride scholarships awarded.
• Applications will be released by early November and additional information can be found here. 
• Deadline: December 15, 2023.

• Applicants should be high school seniors who intend to have a career in the plumbing, heating and cooling industry. 
• Sponsorship by a member of the SDAPHCC is required. 
• One $500 and one $1,000 scholarship is awarded and can be applied towards college or technical school tuition. 
• For additional information and the application, click here. 
• Deadline: December 31, 2023.

In addition to financial assistance towards a college education, the NROTC provides NROTC midshipmen direction, purpose, and a career of future service as a Marine Officer. 

Benefits include but are not limited to:

• Pays full tuition, mandatory fees, books, and uniforms for qualifying universities
• $250-400 monthly stipend
• Earn a commission and opportunity to lead our nation's finest

Eligibility Requirements include but are not limited to:

• U.S. Citizen / Naturalize Citizen
• Minimum Tests Scores: ACT: 22, SAT: 1000, or ASVAB: 74
• Pass USMC Physical Fitness Test
• Admittance to a participating NROTC College or university
• High School seniors are eligible to apply for the 4 Year NROTC Scholarship

For an application or additional information, contact Captain Evan M. Reineman at evan.reineman@marines.usmc.mil or 612-725-3198 with questions.

Daughters of the American Revolution offer 26 scholarships for graduating seniors with specific areas of study. 

Applicants must be U.S. citizens and attend to plan to attend an accredited college or university in the United States. 

View the a PDF full list of the 26 scholarships here or on their website. 

Applications are accepted starting November 1 and are due January 31, 2024.

The South Dakota State Society of the Daughters of the American REvolution offers an annual $500 scholarship to the direct descendants of a United States Military Veteran.

For additional information and application, click here. 

Deadline: February 1, 2024.

The Annis I. Fowler/Kaden scholarship awards funding to students who are first time freshman at BHSU, DSU, NSU, SDSU, or USD and intend to major in Elementary Education.

• A one-time scholarship of up to $1,000 is awarded. 
• The application and additional information can be found here. 
• Deadline: February 23, 2024.

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.

• Applicants should be a high school senior planning to earn a degree in agriculture or natural resources or a related field.
• A one-time $500 scholarship is awarded. 
• Application and additional information can be found here.
• Deadline: February 23, 2024.