Category Archives: Story

News, Story

Five Individuals Selected for Induction into the South Dakota 4-H Volunteer Hall of Fame

A group of five individuals has been selected for induction into the South Dakota 4-H Volunteer Hall of Fame. Selected by the Volunteer Hall of Fame committee, the 2020 inductees include Patricia Casteel, Meade County; Calvin Finnesand, Roberts County; Mike Steiger, Dewey County; Patty Brunner, Pennington County; and Margaret Williams, Clay County.
The South Dakota 4-H Volunteer Hall of Fame commemorates the 4-H Centennial, which occurred in 2002. Each summer, individuals who have made significant contributions to county or state 4-H programming are honored through the 4-H Volunteer Hall of Fame.
 “In 4-H, we focus on ‘inspiring youth to do’ through hands-on learning, community service, and leadership experiences,” said Tim Tanner, SDSU Extension State 4-H Program Director. “These volunteers have demonstrated the community impact that a lifestyle of ‘doing’ can achieve. The 4-H program relies on the investment of caring volunteers just like these five honorees, and we sincerely appreciate their service.”
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Governor Noem Announces $75 Million in CARES Act Funding for K-12 Schools

Governor Kristi Noem  announced that public and private schools in South Dakota will receive an additional $75 million, or $500 per student, in new funding from the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF).

“I appreciate the great work our schools are doing to ensure kids are back in the classroom this fall,” said Governor Noem. “We expect this additional funding will help schools continue to tackle challenges related to COVID-19. It’s crucial that our students are in the classroom this year, and we are grateful to the Trump administration for giving us the flexibility to help make that happen.”

The new funding is pursuant to yesterday’s updated guidance from the United States Department of Treasury. The CRF was created as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The new guidance also means that tribal governments can choose to make a similar payment to tribal and BIE schools.

The CARES Act provided $1.25 billion in funding to the state of South Dakota, and the new funding will come out of that allotment. South Dakota’s K-12 schools also received $41 million from the U.S. Department of Education’s Elementary & Secondary Schools Emergency Relief Funds. An additional $5.7 million will be awarded from the Governor’s Emergency Relief Funds at a future date.

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Eighteen South Dakotans Selected to Participate in State Change Network

A group of 18 South Dakotans has been selected to participate in the 2020-2021 cohort of South Dakota Change Network. Started in 2017 and funded by the Bush Foundation, the network is a partnership between 3E Productions, CommonSense Consulting@Work, National Arts Strategies and SDSU Extension that provides a yearlong fellowship program for individuals to gain experience driving equitable and inclusive change in their respective organizations and communities.
“Strong communities are critical during times of uncertainty and need thoughtful leaders who can facilitate inclusive change,” said Kari O’Neill, SDSU Extension Community Vitality Field Specialist. “The cohort model of the South Dakota Change Network promotes connections among leaders with diverse backgrounds and ideas, sparking meaningful conversations on how to follow through on making positive change.”
The 2020-2021 cohort will include Sydney Bartunek of Sioux Falls, Amy Fill of Volin, Anthony Firman of Flandreau, Annicka Gunderson of Vermillion, Kayla Herman of Aberdeen, Laura Hoiten of Watertown, Kenton James of Flandreau, Kaitlyn Johnson of Spearfish, Sarah Larson of Sioux Falls, Jessica Lewis of Rapid City, Elizabeth Lone Eagle of Howes, Emily Meier of Aberdeen, Jessica Meyers of Sioux Falls, Tamera Miyasato of Rapid City, Patrick Pope of Sioux Falls, Peggy Schlechter of Rapid City, Anita Shrestha of Vermillion and Marla Thunder Bull of Wounded Knee.
Participants will have access to a supportive learning environment that includes an online curriculum, one-on-one coaching and mentorship from professionals, collaboration opportunities with South Dakota Change Network alumni, virtual meetings to build strong connections among each other, and access to a small grant and other resources.
The 18 individuals were selected from communities and Native nations throughout South Dakota for their passion to make a difference in the places they work and live and will develop various projects focused on changing their communities and organizations. Example projects include strengthening Lakota language and culture on the Pine Ridge Reservation, educating the community of Aberdeen on the town’s diverse cultures and advocating for more female leaders in science-based careers. Together, the individuals will embrace their authentic leadership capacities, examine opportunities to advance their projects and become stronger leaders in their regions.
At the program’s conclusion, the 2020-2021 cohort will join a network of nearly 100 leaders from the South Dakota and North Dakota Change Networks who continue to work toward creating a more equitable and inclusive world.
For more information regarding the South Dakota Change Network, contact Kari O’Neill, SDSU Extension Community Vitality Field Specialist, at kari.oneill@sdstate.edu or 605.685.6972.
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South Dakota Farmers Union Recognizes Rural Volunteers with 2020 Rural Dakota Pride Award

South Dakota Farmers Union recognizes South Dakotans who give back to their rural communities with the 2020 Rural Dakota Pride Award.
The 2020 Rural Dakota Pride honorees include Connie and Allen Hoeft, Stratford; Holly Bauer, Whitewood; Sharon Peterson, De Smet; Jenny Wilk, Huron; and Joyce Heath, Winner.
“Without citizens willing to volunteer their time, our rural communities cannot survive. Our organization thanks all who give of their time and talents to support South Dakota’s rural communities,” says Karla Hofhenke, S.D. Farmers Union Executive Director.
As a grassroots organization which serves South Dakota’s family farmers and ranchers, Doug Sombke, SDFU President, says Farmers Union recognizes the important role strong rural communities play in supporting agriculture producers and their families.
“South Dakota’s agriculture producers and their communities are closely connected. In good economic times they both prosper. When the economy is down, like today with the trade war, low commodity prices and extreme weather conditions, they both feel the pain,” Sombke says. “The Rural Dakota Pride honor is one of many ways SDFU works to show our support for both.”
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Governor Noem Congratulates Build Dakota Scholarship Winners

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.

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Johnson to Visit Tea and Brookings Today

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.