High school seniors who attend Black Hills State University may be eligible for $10,000 scholarships, thanks to a donation to the Horatio Alger Association Endowment by Association member T. Denny Sanford. Fifteen scholarships of $10,000 each are available. The scholarship application is open until Oct. 25 at: https://scholars.horatioalger.org/horatio-alger-scholarship-applications
Eligible applicants include:
- critical financial need ($55,000 or less adjusted gross income per family)
- integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity
- U.S. citizenship
- minimum GPA of 2.5
A member of the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, Fallis said she wanted to stay close to home for college and when she first heard she received the Denny Sanford
Scholarship, she felt “a weight was lifted off her shoulders.” She plans to complete her associate’s degree at BHSU and stay in South Dakota to work as a midwife or pediatric nurse after she earns her nursing license. She is involved in the Center for American Indian Studies on campus.
Cadenas chose to attend BHSU because of the University’s accredited business program and reasonable tuition rates. Her family moved often while growing up, which the Denny Sanford Scholarship program recognized as an adversity factor. Cadenas says she appreciates the one-on-one time she receives with her professors at BHSU. She is a member of the TRiO Organization on campus promoting college access and student success.
Sanford is chairman of the board for United National Corporation, the holding company for First PREMIER Bank and PREMIER Bankcard, headquartered in Sioux Falls, S.D. Sanford is a renowned philanthropist and was named one of “America’s Top Donors” by the Chronicle of Philanthropy and by the Association of Fundraising Professionals. His charitable giving focuses on health care and children’s causes and his contributions exceed $1 billion.
Eligibility for this special scholarship is two-fold. Students selected through the established application process for the Horatio Alger National (https://scholars.horatioalger.org/horatio-alger-scholarship-applications) and State Scholarship Programs who then matriculate into one of the 12 selected universities (of which BHSU is included) are eligible for this award. In addition, students who apply to any of the 12 selected universities are then identified by admissions counselors as meeting the Horatio Alger Scholar criteria are also eligible. If prospective students missed the deadline for the fall application period, a spring application time is also available January 15 to March 15.
For questions about eligibility, contact BHSU Admissions at Admissions@BHSU.edu or 605-642-6131.
About BHSU
Black Hills State University is the only comprehensive university in western South Dakota. BHSU is a masters-level state university with students from all 66 counties in South Dakota, 42 states, and 25 countries. The campus leads the region in environmental sustainability efforts and maintains top academic programs in business (AACSB accredited), exercise science, natural sciences, social sciences, the arts, mass communication, health sciences and education. The university provides academic programs through three colleges, the College of Business and Natural Sciences, the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, and the College of Liberal Arts. Founded in 1883 as a school for preparing teachers, BHSU is located in the northern Black Hills, a region abundant with outdoor activity and culture. Learn more at www.BHSU.edu
