Our Dakota Dreams Educator Webinar: Scholarship Strategies & SD's "Big 5" Overview

Topic: Scholarship Strategies, SD's "Big 5" Scholarships

Date: January 13, 2026

Time: 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. (CT)

Location: Zoom

Description: Join fellow educators for a practical, high-impact session aimed at empowering students and families with scholarship know-how, focusing on South Dakota's five major state-backed scholarships:

• Build Dakota Scholarship: A full-ride opportunity at one of the four technical colleges for students entering high-need career programs (e.g., healthcare, advanced manufacturing, IT, welding). Covers tuition, fees, books, and program expenses. Recipients commit to working full-time in their field in South Dakota for at least three years post-graduation.
• Dakota Corps Scholarship: Covers full tuition and general fees for qualifying students entering a critical-need career (e.g., teaching, engineering, IT, nursing) who agree to stay and work in South Dakota after graduation.
• South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship: Awards up to $7,500 per year to academically accomplished SD high school graduates attending an accredited postsecondary institution within the state.
• Freedom Scholarship: The state's largest need-based award through a public-private partnership (e.g., First PREMIER Bank, Avera, Sanford), helping high-need students access South Dakota postsecondary institutions.
• Jump Start Scholarship: Offers $1,500 - $1,700 for students who accelerate high school graduation and enroll within a year in a South Dakota college.

# of Continuing Education Contact Hours: 1 for webinar attendance and completion of a short survey within a limited timeframe.

Contact: Andrea.Effling@state.sd.us