2024 Scholarships
Two Scholarship Opportunities
The recipient must be a senior high school student who resides in South Dakota, is currently attending a South Dakota public, private, parochial high school or a home school program, and lives in a township that is a current member of SDATAT. Graduates of the class of 2024 are eligible to be nominated for the scholarship. The student must use the scholarship for a college, university, or vocational school which has a physical presence in South Dakota.
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The South Dakota Association of Towns & Townships is offering one $1000 and one $500 scholarship. Applicants must complete an application form and submit it along with their essay on this year’s topic: Consider the meaning of "paying it forward" as it relates to service and volunteerism. What are the potenetial positive effects and/or perceived negative affects? Provide a detailed real life example or experience to support your position. Refect in your essay how this principal influences you today and in your near future.
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Download the 2024 SDATAT Scholarship Program Application.
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About the SDATAT Scholarship Program. . .
When did it begin?
The SDATAT Scholarship program was started in 2003 and began as two separate $500 scholarships, then was revised the following year to award a single $1000 award. In 2013 it was once again revised to be one $1000 and one $500 scholarship.
Who can apply?
Any senior high school student who resides in South Dakota and is currently attending a South Dakota public, private, parochial high school or home school program is eligible. The student must use the scholarship for a college, university, or vocational school which has a physical presence in South Dakota; and lives in a town or township that is a current member of SDATAT.
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What are some of the guidelines?
Essays must be no more than 500 words and must be typed with double spacing. Applicants can not name themselves, their school, town or township, or their local officials in the essay. Essays will be judged on originality, knowledge of subject matter in relationship to the title, correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation; and finally, the application may be accompanied by no more than two one-page support letters.
How are the winners chosen?
As the scholarships are received at the SDATAT Office, the Dep. Admin Director will go through each submission to be sure all the guidelines are met and disqualifying any that are not. The qualifying essays are numbered and then sent on to the Scholarship Committee. Only the essays are forwarded to the Scholarship Committee to assure anonymity. After the Scholarship Committee chooses a winner, the number is given to the Dep. Admin. Director, and the name is released.
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When and how is the scholarship paid?
The scholarship award will be paid to the appropriate financial aid office upon receipt of verification of enrollment at a South Dakota college, university or technical school in September of the winner’s second year of study.