A Mines student at work in the university’s Center of Excellence for
Advanced Multidisciplinary Projects (CAMP).
The Freedom Scholarship will open opportunities like this at Mines for
more state residents.
The first allocation of the new Freedom Scholarship totals $310,000
in new funding for future South Dakota
Mines students who are state residents.
The Freedom Scholarship is currently a $175 million
endowment thanks to a public/private partnership involving First PREMIER Bank /
PREMIER Bankcard, Sanford Health, Avera Health and the State of South Dakota
led by Governor Kristi Noem, who spurred the scholarship fund’s creation in
2021. The scholarship program is administered by the South Dakota Community
Foundation and overseen by the Freedom Scholarship Board, which announced the
initial allocation of funds to 13 institutions in South Dakota.
A press release
on the Freedom Scholarship states that the statewide effort aims “to encourage
students of all economic backgrounds to live and work in South Dakota after
graduation.”
“This
investment in South Dakota students will pay itself back many times,” says
Mines President Jim Rankin. “The emerging high-tech industry in the state has a
strong need for scientists, engineers, and business leaders who can advance the
frontier of innovation and bring creative solutions to our most pressing
problems. This effort is not only a major benefit for students; it is going to
elevate the entire state.”
The Freedom Scholarship endowment was created in the
2021 legislative session. Senate Bill 171 initially authorized $50 million to
be allocated to the Freedom Scholarship endowment. The fund is now at more than
$175 million in commitments, thanks to multiple private investors with a future
goal of $200 million.
Students can find information on the Freedom
Scholarship here.