MikeRoweWorks Foundation gives SD Scholarships
SIOUX FALLS, SD – For the second year in a row, Build Dakota Scholarship has teamed up with the mikeroweWORKS Foundation to award $50,000 in Finish Strong Scholarships to 10 second-year technical students across South Dakota. Each recipient will receive a $5,000 scholarship for tuition, tools, and/or books.
The Finish Strong Scholarship is open to students entering their second year at one of South Dakota’s four technical colleges. The scholarship is funded by the mikeroweWORKS Foundation and matched by the South Dakota Future Fund.
“There is a lot of value in technical education, especially in South Dakota. It’s great to have partners like the mikeroweWORKS Foundation that want to see it succeed,” said Dana Dykhouse, chairman of the Finish Strong board. “There’s so much opportunity out there for students in some of these high-needs fields. We hope our scholarships brings some attention to those opportunities.”
Jennie Best, Assistant Director of Scholarships at Western Dakota Technical College, said the scholarship is a win-win for businesses and students. “There’s a huge need for skilled workers in South Dakota. The Finish Strong Scholarship is just one example of the efforts to address this issue,” said Best. “It’s $5,000. But the difference it makes for these ten students—and the freedom it gives them— is much bigger than that.”
The Finish Strong Scholarship was created after Mike Rowe, best known as the creator and host of the iconic TV series Dirty Jobs and CEO of the mikeroweWORKS Foundation, visited South Dakota in the fall of 2018, when he toured several South Dakota technical colleges and businesses.
Scholarship winners:
Daniel Kloss – Southeast Tech
Ian Radach – Lake Area Tech
Jared Ligtenberg – Southeast Tech
Lydia Bunkowske – Lake Area Tech
Malakai Stevens – Western Dakota Tech
Matthew Hansen – Southeast Tech
Joshua Kjenstad – Lake Area Tech
Jorge Tello – Southeast Tech
Austin Wenner – Mitchell Tech
Miguel Vazquez – Southeast Tech
– Finish Strong Scholarship
