PIERRE, S.D. – Thirty-eight South Dakota high school graduates have been awarded Dakota Corps scholarships to pursue careers in critical-need occupations within the state.
The Governor's Office made the announcement Tuesday.
Each year, Dakota Corps recipients receive funding equivalent to the cost of tuition and applicable fees at their postsecondary institution. Once graduated, they are required to enter into a critical-need occupation in South Dakota, with terms of service equivalent to the number of years they received the scholarship, plus one year. The scholarships are supported entirely by private donations.
“Through the Dakota Corps scholarship program these students are educated in state and they commit to staying in South Dakota to work in a high-need field,” Gov. Dennis Daugaard said. “I thank the private businesses and non-profit organizations that make this investment in our students possible.”
Current occupations that qualify for Dakota Corps Scholarship support include teaching K-12 special education; teaching K-12 foreign languages; teaching high school math, science, or career and technical education; working as an accountant or auditor; working as an engineer (all fields except mining); working as a registered nurse; or working in the information technology field (computer science, information assurance and information security).
The South Dakota Board of Regents administers the Dakota Corps Scholarship program. For more information about this program, contact the board office at 1-800- 874-9033 or send an e-mail to DakotaCorps@sdbor.edu.
The following is a list of the 38 students who are new Dakota Corps Scholarship recipients for the 2017-2018 academic year:
- Augustana University
Sara Bell, Sioux Falls
Nolan Ortbahn, Pierre
Mariah Prunty, Parkston
- Dakota State University
Steven Bergmann, Brookings
Tomas Brist, Watertown
William DeCurtins, Brandon
Seth Huot, Centerville
Angela Hupf, Castlewood
John Prosper, Aberdeen
Michael Moore, Sioux Falls
Alexis VanderWilt, Mitchell
- Northern State University
Elizabeth Klamm, Valley Springs
Caleb Schoenfelder, Iroquois
- South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Ellie Burczek, Watertown
Joshua Christensen, Rapid City
Nathan Fjelstad, Groton
Isaac Johnson, Rapid City
Connor O’Brien, Watertown
Kole Pickner, Onida
Benjamin Pond, Ipswich
Joshua Powell, Garretson
Ben Sjoberg, Watertown
Carter Volk, Watertown
Chandler Wilson, Piedmont
- South Dakota State University
Samuel Caba, Lesterville
Tyler Fairchild, Watertown
Garrison Gross, Mitchell
Drew Hanshaw, North Sioux City
Jameson Meyer, Brookings
Stephanie Nelson, Pierre
Maggie Peterson, Vermillion
Caitlynn Runia, Brandon
Evan Steers, Miller
Jesse Wright, Sioux Falls
- University of Sioux Falls
Mariah Heckathorn, Elk Point
- University of South Dakota
Derek Bierschbach, Madison
Madison Hardy, Bath
Keely Rexwinkel, Corsica