Do You Need A Build Dakota Scholar Working For You?
By Sunny Hannum
What you get when you participate in the Build Dakota Scholarship program is a dedicated worker for three years after graduation. You may sponsor a current employee, or a technical college can help you match with a new applicant in a high-demand program.
From the looks of the attendance at the Build Dakota Road Show this morning in Parkview Auditorium, all 134 of the 142 students enrolled in Grades 9-12 were there to hear Rita Nelson, Build Dakota Workforce Relations Coordinator for Build Dakota Scholarship program present a road to the future for students who are interested in technical education. Nelson said that each technical college has their own Build Dakota Industry Partner Program.
Industry partners are South Dakota businesses that specialize in high-need fields, a Build Dakota partnership can be a useful tool for expanding your workforce while helping students get a free ride on tuition to one of the four technical schools in South Dakota: Lake Area Tech, Mitchell Tech, Southeast Tech or Western Dakota Tech. In exchange for a commitment to work in their chosen field for a business for three years, a participating student gets help to cover tuition, fees and other expenses in eligible programs. For students, it means a free degree and immediate job placement, while businesses gain skilled scholars. Businesses in Fort Pierre who have Build Dakota Scholarship students are Morris Inc., Floyd’s Truck Center, Rays Garage, Missouri River Dentistry and Sioux Nation, LLC.
Attending this mornings meeting were SCHS Superintendent Rob Coverdale, SCHS counselor Nichole Hahn, Dr. Michelle Hofer of Missouri River Dentistry, Kat Harstaadt from Avera St. Mary’s, Desiree Noteboom from DSS Vocational Rehab Services, and Taylor Riddle from Lake Area Tech, and Dave Bonde and Sunny Hannum of Fort Pierre Economic Development Corporation. For more information contact Rita Nelson at 605-760-4284, rita@builddakotascholarships.com.