June 2, 2023

This paid event listing is sponsored by Southeast Technical College.

Southeast Technical College has awarded 154 incoming fall 2023 students full-ride Build Dakota Scholarships.

Today, Gov. Kristi Noem, along with Dana Dykhouse, who’s a member of the Build Dakota Scholarship Board, chair of the South Dakota Board of Technical Education and CEO of First PREMIER Bank, and Sanford Health President and CEO Bill Gassen, helped celebrate these students at a Signing Day event.

This incoming class marks the ninth year of the Build Dakota Scholarship program, a record number of scholars and the first time every STC scholarship recipient is sponsored by an industry partner, said STC President Robert Griggs.

“We are excited to welcome the largest number of Build Dakota students to campus,” Griggs said. “The fact that each of today’s scholarship recipients have an industry sponsor speaks volumes for the quality and demand of STC graduates and our mutual commitment to partner to meet workforce demands.”

The eighth cohort, awarded in 2022, also broke a record when 143 scholarships were awarded.

The Build Dakota Scholarship is available for 25 of Southeast Tech’s most in-demand programs in industries such as health care, engineering technology, IT, mechatronics, horticulture and sports turf management, and industrial trades.

STC works closely with businesses in the region that are seeking graduates from Build Dakota programs. Industry sponsors match the scholarship funds to sponsor a Build Dakota scholar.

“We work year-round to help secure industry sponsorships for this program,” said Kelli Rogotzke, STC’s career services coordinator. “Having an industry sponsor is a great component of Build Dakota. It allows us to stretch scholarship dollars, students to make connections in their chosen field and businesses to help fill their workforce needs.”

With growing enrollment, Southeast Tech focuses on programs that lead to quality jobs