Governor Kristi Noem yesterday congratulated 313 students who have been awarded the Build Dakota Scholarship for the 2020-21 school year.

“The Build Dakota Scholarship program is a tremendous opportunity for students and a powerful tool for workforce development,” said Governor Noem. “Students earn degrees in high-demand fields and upon graduation, can immediately begin building their future in South Dakota.”

Build Dakota aims to support students entering high-need workforce programs at South Dakota’s technical colleges to fill the state’s technical career fields with skilled professionals. The scholarships cover tuition and fees, books, equipment, and other related program expenses for eligible programs within nine high-need industry areas at South Dakota’s four technical colleges. Recipients were selected by technical colleges from a total of 1,189 applications.

“The Build Dakota Scholarship program matches today’s students with tomorrow’s careers,” said Dana Dykhouse, chairman of the South Dakota Board of Technical Education. “Our technical colleges are powerhouses for the state workforce. Industry partnerships, through which some businesses sponsor students and commit to pay part of their program expenses, expand the impact of Build Dakota dollars. This year 244 scholarship recipients have an industry partner.

In-state and out-of-state students of all ages are eligible to apply. Scholarship applicants must be accepted into their approved program of interest. Recipients of the scholarship must enroll full-time, complete their educational program on schedule, and commit to stay in South Dakota to work in their field of study for three years following graduation.

Applications for the 2021-22 school year open in January 2021. Find more information on Build Dakota Scholarships here.

U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) will speak at the Inside Washington Sioux Falls Chamber event in Tea today. He will also present Vietnam War Commemorative pins to several veterans at Veterans Memorial Park, attend a groundbreaking for a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development project, and visit Brookings Hospital.

A beginner’s Dove Hunt will be held September 17th and 18th in Chamberlain, South Dakota at the Game Fish and Parks Office starting at 5:30.  One can register by contacting Diana at 605-730-1578.

The Winner Pix Theater on Saturday, September 5th will be showing a free matinee starting at 4:00 p.m.  The film will be “Surfs Up” which is rated PG.  They will also be offering walk up curb side concessions outside the theater both Saturday and Sunday as well from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Fire officials from the Nebraska National Forests & Grasslands (NNFG) urge visitors to help prevent wildfires.  This year the Forest has had a total of 11 fires: four were human caused fires, and seven were lightning caused. Currently Fire Danger in all areas of the Forest are rated “Very High.”

The wildland fire support community of the NNFG noted that the Labor Day holiday brings many visitors onto public lands. Forest Service officials ask that all forest visitors be considerate and practice fire prevention: Know before you go on that camping trip; Fire restrictions may be in place; Target shooting and use of power equipment can spark a wildfire; If you do have a campfire, keep it small, never leave it unattended, and put it out completely before you leave; and finally, remember that fireworks and exploding targets are not allowed on national forest system lands, so leave them home.

Tedd Teahon, Acting Forest Fire Management Officer said, “To quote Roy T. Bennett, ‘Do what is right, not what is easy nor what is popular.’”  Help us keep prevent wildland fires on our Public Lands.