Approximately four years ago, while on a motor cycle trip to New Found-land, I was able to have a great conversation with a lady I met on the ship who was from a reservation in northern Canada. After our conversation I found myself thinking about what we talked about and a variety of ideas started their formation that led me to develop a special scholarship program for Wagner students and if operated properly would produce a successful and highly trained student. When I returned to Wagner, contacted the area technical colleges and the Yankton Sioux Tribe to see if a partnership could be created. The final result was the development of the Yankton Sioux Tribe and Build Dakota Partnership Scholarship and the funding for four students each year.

This scholarship was designed to be operated with “success” and “professional training” as the goal. To apply for this scholarship, students need to complete a scholarship application, then be interviewed by a committee to help determine if they are the right fit for the scholarship. The scholarship requires monthly face to face contact to see what, if anything, needs to be done to help them reach the success they are striving for. After 41 years as a school counselor I have watched more than my share of students fail as they had no followup process in place if they needed help. Success is earned and not given when students are at the next step in life. I have found that helping students face to face helps tremendously in the success rate of students. If more families got involved at the beginning with their child’s education, fewer would fail and money would be handled properly.

After watching this program progress, it became clear that other students who were not Yankton members could find success in this process as well. Several business leaders have seen what this idea has produced and are very interested in creating a partnership scholarship as well, with being from Wagner the only criteria. This newly established scholarship is known as the Wagner Community and Build Dakota Partnership Scholarship. Both of these scholarship provide a student with a full ride scholarship, which pays for all of the tuition, books, fees and tools, leaving only room and board left. This is often then covered by completing a FAFSA. Both of these scholarships focus on attending school at Mitchell Technical College, Southeast Technical College or Lake Area Technical College and also the training must be with one of the Build Dakota Programs.

These scholarship, as with all scholarships, have a deadline. If a senior is interested in either of these scholarships they are greatly encouraged to contact the high school counselor as soon as possible or contact Dana Sanderson at 605-491-0804. Time is every seniors enemy at this time of year. These scholarships are worth thousands of dollars each and time is important. What we found interesting with the lunch with the Chamber of Commerce and seniors was the fact that several business leaders stood up and wanted to recruit our Wagner students to come back home when they are done. Several business leaders are also interested offering jobs to our seniors even if they are not interested in going on to school. “What an opportunity!”