What are the requirements to receive a scholarship? The requirements vary for all scholarships. Most are academic and/or need-based. Visit the BHSU Scholarship pageand use the searchable database for descriptions.
Do I need to be admitted to apply for scholarships? No. However, for priority consideration we strongly encourage you to have completed the application process.
When are the deadlines to apply for BHSU scholarships? is the submission deadline for new and transfer students scholarship applications.
is the priority deadline for continuing students. Any scholarship application submitted after will be evaluated on a funds-available basis.
TYPES OF SCHOLARSHIPS
What types of scholarships do you offer? There are several types of scholarships offered at BHSU.To view BHSU scholarships, click here and use the searchable database for names and descriptions.
Can I receive outside scholarships along with a scholarship from BHSU? Yes, you may receiveoutside scholarships. For further information click on the 'Outside Scholarship' tab above. However, if you are applying forFederal Aid, scholarships will be counted as a resource.
What scholarships do you have available for Non-Residents? Scholarships of Distinction are available for new students only. Other scholarships available are outside scholarships and Privately Funded. For more information on tuition and fees, clickhere.
What outside scholarships are available? Please visit ourOutside Scholarships page for more information. DISCLAIMER: BHSU does not affiliate with or endorse any third-party scholarship website. Please exercise caution when pursuing any outside scholarships. Be careful what information you supply to websites. When in doubt, don't supply any personal information.
Are there scholarships available for graduate students? Generally, graduate students who have previously earned a bachelor's degree are NOT eligible to apply for BHSU scholarships, however, there may be someoutside scholarshipresources available. TheFederal Student Aid websiteis also a resource available for outside scholarship searches (go to 'More Info & Resources' -> 'Scholarship Search'). DISCLAIMER: BHSU does not affiliate with or endorse any third-party scholarship website. Please exercise caution when pursuing any outside scholarships. Be careful what information you supply to websites. When in doubt, don't supply any personal information.
Do you have scholarships available for students with disabilities? You will need to contact theDisabilities Services Centeron campus for more information. The Disabilities Services Center may have private money or information on applying for off-campus scholarships.
CREDIT HOUR REQUIREMENTS
Do I have to be attending full-time to apply for scholarships? No, you can apply without being full-time. However, if you are awarded a scholarship, you will need to attend full-time (minimum of 12 credit hours per semester).
Do you have any scholarships for part-time students? No, but there may be a few Privately Funded Scholarships.
How many credit hours am I required to take? 12 BHSU credit hours per semester is the minimum. Some scholarships require more. Many scholarships require 30 BHSU credit hours per academic year for continuing scholarship eligibility.
It is my last semester and I don’t have 12 credit hours to take. Can I still receive my scholarship? All special circumstances should be directed in writing to the BHSU Foundation Scholarship Coordinator, Kanda Guthmiller atKanda.Guthmiller@BHSU.edu
CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT
If I have taken concurrent (dual) enrollment classes in high school, will I be considered a continuing student? If you have not graduated from high school, you will be considered a new student for scholarship purposes.
If I am taking concurrent (dual) enrollment through BHSU, do I still need to be admitted? Yes, you will need to apply as a degree-seeking student by using the application foundhere. Please provide all necessary supporting documents.
APPEALS AND SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
Is there a probation period for scholarships? No, if you fail to complete the requirements at the end of the semester, your scholarship will be canceled.
If I withdraw from my classes will I have to pay back the scholarship? If you withdraw during the 100% refund period, the scholarship will be taken back and you will not have to repay it. If you withdraw after the 100% refund period, you may have to pay a portion of the scholarship back, or any refund you may get would go back to the scholarship account.
AWARD AND STATUS INFORMATION
Did you receive my scholarship application? You should receive an email confirmation if your application was successfully submitted.
How can I tell if I have been awarded a scholarship? You should receive an email or a letter if you are awarded.
Can I accept my scholarship online? Yes. New students can accept their scholarships online by clickinghere and filling out the form. Returning students need to follow the directions from their college.
How much can I receive from a scholarship? The amount can vary anywhere from partial to full tuition unless otherwise indicated. If a student is offered more than one award, it may be necessary to indicate a preference. Combined award amounts may not exceed the actual cost of attendance.
Thank-you letters are a mandatory condition of accepting most scholarships at BHSU. A thank-you letter should be sincere, expressing appreciation without excessive flattery. The tone should be pleasant. Donors appreciate receiving a thank-you letter. Your thank-you letter assists in persuading a donor to renew their contribution to a scholarship.
As a guide to help you write your thank-you letter, we have provided you with some tips on what to include in your letter. While we would like you to follow these guidelines, they are not restrictions on how to write your letter.
Things to be included in your letter:
Educational Background (your year in school and major)
Accomplishments/Achievements
Obstacles you have overcome to attend college
Extracurricular activities including stories about a relevant extracurricular or community service project that impacted your life
Goals and aspirations (your future plans-both immediate and long term; include the career you wish to pursue)
Mention your appreciation for the scholarship that you received and your plans for utilizing the funds. ("Thank you for making this scholarship possible" or "Your scholarship makes it possible for me to concentrate more fully on my courses.")
Remember that the donor did not select you as the recipient, but provided the funds for the scholarship, i.e. "Thanks for making the Oak Hills Rotary Scholarship possible......"
Tips on writing your letter:
Address your letter to: (Donor contact name, given to you by the Office of Admissions or Department/College )
Your thank-you letter can be handwritten or typed. Either is acceptable, however, if handwritten it must be neat and legible.
The use of a thank-you card, personal stationary or plain stationary is acceptable.
Be concise in your letter, but sincere.
State what the thank-you is for by using the full and correct scholarship name and donor contact name provided in your award letter.
Make sure that you sign your letter.
Make sure that, upon final inspection, your letter has a neat appearance.
Check all spelling and grammar after you have completed your letter.
Make a copy of your thank-you letter and forward it to
Kanda Guthmiller, Scholarship Coordinator, 1200 University St. Unit 9506, Spearfish, SD 57799
Or drop it off at the Joy Center
Sample Letter:
Sam Edwards C/O BHSU Scholarships 1200 University Unit 9670 Spearfish, SD 57799-9670
Dear Mr. Edwards:
As a recipient of the Edwards Family Scholarship, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your support of BHSU and its students. It means a lot to students such as myself that you believe in our efforts to reach our higher educational goals.
I am a junior in the College of Business and Natural Sciences pursuing a degree in accounting. During my free time, I volunteer with the VISTA program helping prepare tax returns for low-income residents of the Northern Hills. I also like to volunteer at the Humane Society and with Special Olympics. This year I became a member of the BHSU Presidential Ambassadors where I represent the university at functions such as the 1883 dinner and orientation for new students.
My future goals involve studying for and passing my CPA exams and then seeking a career in an established accounting firm. In two years I plan to graduate with the university honor of summa cum laude. When I complete my degree at BHSU, I feel more than competent to complete my career goals and future endeavors.
The Edwards Family Scholarship has helped me tremendously focus more on my education rather than seeking full time employment to pay for my school.
Once again thank you for your generous gift to BHSU and its students. Your support will go a long way in achieving my educational and career goals.
Sincerely,
(Student Signature)
Taylor Jackson 1200 University Unit 8000 Spearfish, SD 57799-8000 Taylor.Jackson@yellowjackets.bhsu.edu 605-722-3306
CONTINUING ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR SD BOARD OF REGENTS SCHOLARSHIPS
South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship (4-year award)
Continuing Eligibility Requirements for Renewable BHSU Scholarships
Residence Hall Half Room Scholarship (2-year award)
3.0 Cumulative GPA
Must have completed 30 BHSU credits after two semesters
Clarkson Memorial Scholarship (3-year awardsoph/jun/sen)
3.0 Cumulative GPA
Must attend full-time each semester, taking only BHSU credits
Joe & Elaine Floyd Scholarship (4-year award)
15 credits per semester
Joseph & Martha Nelson Scholarship (4-year award)
Maintain a major in biology, chemistry, physical science, environmental physical science, or mathematics
Minimum cumulative GPA of:
3.0 after two semesters
3.2 after 3rdand 4thsemesters
3.4 after 5th, 6th, and 7thsemesters
Complete 30 hours of BHSU credits per academic year
Weiland Scholarship
2.0 GPA
Must attend full-time each semester, taking only BHSU credits
Mahoney Running Scholarship (4-year award)
3.0 GPA
Complete 15 BHSU credits per semester
Delger-Krier (2-year award)
Renewable if making appropriate progress towards a degree
Determined by Scholarship Coordinator
Child of Alumni (in-state tuition)
2.5 GPA
Complete 30 BHSU credits per academic year
Continuing Eligibility Requirements for University Funded Scholarships
Humbert Hall Room Scholarship (2-year award)
3.0 Cumulative GPA
Must have completed 30 BHSU credits after two semesters
OUTSIDE SCHOLARSHIPS
Donors will give Black Hills State University their information on scholarships. They can be found within the searchable database above. Be as general as possible when searching the database as some of these scholarships, such as the American Business Women Association (ABWA), will give to any major. Choose ANY for majors and always choose OUTSIDE SCHOLARSHIP for these donors from outside BHSU.
If you have questions, please don't hesitate to contact Student Financial Services at 605.642.6415.
Must graduate from a South Dakota high school. Each recipient promises to enter a critical need occupation in South Dakota following completion of the program of study. The number of years a recipient must work in a critical need occupation to fulfill the entire obligation is equal to the sum of the number of years of scholarship received, plus one year. For example, a four-year scholarship recipient must work five years; a three-year scholarship recipient must work four years; a two-year scholarship recipient must work three years, etc.
Critical need occupations in SD include: Teachers of High School Math, Science,CTE, Language Arts; Elementary or Secondary Teachers of Special Education, Foreign Language, Vocal or Instrumental Music or ESL/ELL; Accountant/Auditor, Engineer (includes all fields EXCEPT mining, chemical, biomedical, and computer hardware), Information Technology, and Registered Nurse.
Must graduate from a South Dakota high school. The Jump Start Scholarship program is designed to provide a student who graduates from a public high school in three years or less to receive a scholarship funded with a portion of the money saved by the state in state aid to education funding pursuant to chapter 13-13. As a result of the student's early graduation, if the student enrolls at any college, university, or technical school accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools that provides instruction from a campus located in South Dakota, for the 2019-20 academic year the student will be eligible for$1,500.00 to be distributed equally across both the fall and spring semesters during their first year of post-secondary enrollment.
The South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship provides $6,500 over four years to a qualifying student who attends an eligible higher education institution in South Dakota. Recipients may participate in the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship program for the equivalent of four academic years (eight consecutive fall and spring terms), or until attaining a baccalaureate degree. During each academic year, one-half of the annual scholarship award will be distributed at the beginning of the fall semester and the other half distributed at the beginning of the spring semester:
If you are receiving an outside scholarship/grant/award, you must report those to BHSU Student Financial Services. Please complete this form for each additional scholarship/award and mail to the address below. If you wish us to email a form to you, please emailAngie Faulkner.
