Read the June – July 2021 newsletter from South Dakota Retailers Association, featuring Build Dakota Scholarships and its offerings for students and employers. Check out page 2 of the article to learn more.

“With growth in South Dakota seemingly inevitable, there will be a bevy of jobs available for specific skill sets in the future. To help train the next available candidates, the Build Dakota Scholarship program has provided nearly 2,000 students with the opportunity to graduate debt-free and enter the workforce in South Dakota.”

View the full interview with program Manager Deni Amundson to learn more.

From enrollment numbers to partners and resources to student success stories and to looking at the future, this comprehensive annual report explains the ins and outs of the Build Dakota Scholarship Fund and its long-term impact throughout South Dakota.

View the 2020-201 annual report (PDF) to learn more.

In an article by SDN Communications, the benefits of the Build Dakota Scholarship Program are highlighted for students and employers alike:

“Build Dakota was created several years ago to help the state’s technical schools recruit students in fields with workforce shortages, such as telecommunications. By providing full scholarships and creating industry partnerships with companies, including SDN Communications, the Build Dakota program creates more skilled scholars for the state’s workforce. It’s a winning situation for all involved — students receive a free education, businesses gain employees and South Dakota grows.”

Read the full article here.

Black Hills Fox hosts Deni Amundson, program director of Build Dakota Scholarships, to discuss the background and benefits of the program. With 300-400 scholarships offered per year, the ability to work with industry partner programs and to address local workforce, this program is becoming a model for other scholarship programs in the nation.

Watch the full interview here.