South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden says 618 students have been awarded Build Dakota Scholarships for the 2026-27 academic year.
The students make up Cohort 12 of the program and will attend one of South Dakota’s four technical colleges, preparing for careers in high-demand fields.
The Build Dakota program was launched in 2015 with a 25-million-dollar investment from T. Denny Sanford, matched by the state.
Since then, more than 5,100 scholarships have been awarded.
A 2025 study by the Dakota Institute found Build Dakota generated an estimated 235 million dollars in economic output during its first decade.
The scholarship recipients come from more than 160 South Dakota communities. In exchange for the scholarship, students agree to live and work in South Dakota in their field of study for three years after graduation.
This year’s Cohort includes Madison natives Braelyn Abraham, Brennan Bickett, Wyatt Pickard, Cole Klingbile, Brookelyn Riedel, and Owen Schmidt. Also included are Danna Cabuto of Ramona, Cooper Merager and Grace Feige of Wentworth.
Governor Rhoden says the students represent the future of South Dakota and that investing in their education creates opportunities for both students and the state.
