If paying for college feels like the part that stops the dream before it even gets going, Western Dakota Technical College wants students to take a second look.
The scholarship application window is now open, and there’s a lot more on the table than many people realize.
“I get the pleasure of helping students throughout the scholarship process, whether it’s figuring out if they’re eligible for scholarship, helping them apply, editing essays, and then getting them to the last stage where their submissions will be judged,” said Tanner Conley, foundation outreach specialist at Western Dakota Tech.
This year, the numbers are significant. “We are going to be giving away over one point two five million dollars in total scholarships across the twenty six twenty seven period,” Conley said.
That total includes one million dollars in Build Dakota Scholarships, along with an additional two hundred and fifty thousand dollars in foundation scholarships.
The application window opened January 1 and runs through March 31, giving students time to explore options, ask questions, and get help along the way.
One Application, Dozens of Opportunities
Western Dakota Tech offers more than thirty foundation scholarships, covering a wide range of criteria. “These can vary based on program age, need based, gender, all sorts of different determining factors,” Conley said.
Rather than asking students to fill out dozens of applications, the college simplified the process. “We’ve condensed the system into one application, will automatically apply you to all of the scholarships that you are eligible for,” he said.
For students juggling work, family, or uncertainty about where to start, that simplicity matters.
What the Build Dakota Scholarship Covers
The Build Dakota Scholarship is a full academic ride for one year, designed to remove financial barriers almost entirely.
“It is an academic full ride scholarship for a one year period,” Conley said. “It’s going to cover everything in terms of academics, tuition fees, books, tools for certain programs.”
For nursing students, that includes scrubs. Students also receive a laptop and required materials.
“The idea being that we make education as accessible as possible so we can reach out into the community, find people who don’t necessarily have access to education into following their dreams and getting them into a position where they can benefit the community,” Conley said.
New Electrical Trades Scholarships Sponsored Locally
This year also brings expanded opportunities for students entering electrical trades.
“We were incredibly fortunate to have Muth Electric, a local company sponsor, give ten full ride academic scholarships in our electrical trades program,” Conley said. “It is a huge gift and we are incredibly thankful for that.”
Some Build Dakota scholarships include direct partnerships with employers. “Companies like Muth Electric can sponsor students, and essentially what they will do is pay half of the tuition and in return, the student that graduates will work directly for the company,” Conley said.
“It’s a sense that the company is paying for education, but gaining a long term employee in an area that they desperately need.”
What Students Need to Do
For Build Dakota recipients, the expectations are straightforward. “All you have to do is maintain a two point five GPA while you’re in school, and then once you’ve graduated school to work in the state of South Dakota for a period of three years,” Conley said.
Beyond that, Western Dakota Tech focuses heavily on support, especially during the application process.
“We understand that there are essay portions and essays can be incredibly intimidating,” Conley said. “All foundation staff, myself and our director, would be more than happy to sit down with students, talk through what companies are looking for, and even provide basic editing and grammar services.”
The goal, he said, is simple. “We want to get them to the finish line and see how successful they can really be.”
Deadline Approaching
The scholarship deadline is March 31, and Conley encourages students not to wait.
“At the end of the day, it’s free money that’s going to be given away one way or the other,” he said. “We would really like to give it away to some students in our community where it can do the most benefit for us all.”
Students interested in applying or learning more about available scholarships can visit Western Dakota Technical College for full details and application access.
