Tiospaye Scholar Program
Vision and Mission
- For South Dakota Mines to be recognized as an exceptional leader in educating American Indian students in engineering, science, and mathematics
- To prepare American Indian students as leaders in STEM
- To serve the state of South Dakota, the Tribes, the region, and the nation
Become a Tiospaye Scholar
- Contact the Tiospaye Program Director for information on the application and acceptance process
- Join AISES at aises.org
The Tiospaye program – the people, the connections you get through it, the help and assistance – it's unmatched anywhere. It saved me.
Our History, Our Results
The Tiospaye Scholar Program started in 2009 and quickly became a critical support system for participating students. As of May 2025, the program has graduated 70 scholars.
From atmospheric science and biomedical engineering to mechanical engineering and physics, our scholars have represented nearly every major offered at Mines.
Several alumni work for or with Tribes; several have master's degrees; one alumnus has a doctorate in geology; another is a medical doctor specializing in anesthesiology.
Program Overview
Throughout the 15+ years of the Tiospaye Scholar Program at South Dakota Mines, we have learned invaluable lessons that inspire our journey forward, among them:
- The name of our program works;
- Focusing on degree completion works;
- Our five areas of support (financial, academic, professional, cultural, social) work;
- We can find enough scholars to maintain the program;
- Our alumni are impressive, and their testimonials speak to the program's value;
- Our study space matters. We have witnessed the "critical mass" - right number of students in the right place - who have made the space their own, studying together and supporting each other to enhance the program's effectiveness;
- Food is a good thing;
- The program has strong support across campus.
- For college students, the right study space is important. The Tiospaye space features:
- 24/7 study rooms, including a Quiet Study Room and a Group Study Room;
- A color printer with no print credits needed;
- Ample whiteboard space;
- A fridge, freezer, microwave oven, Keurig, and snacks;
- A monthly lunch meeting;
- A tutoring program;
- Academic advising and mentoring in areas ranging from scholarships and research opportunities to internships, co-ops, graduate school, and careers.
- 2009-2020: National Science Foundation (NSF) S-STEM Program
- $1.8M
- 85% directed to scholarships
- 2020-Present: Generous private and corporate donors - the number of which has grown through the years
- Future: We are currently seeking to endow the program
To ensure the continuation of the Tiospaye Scholar Program, we aim to:
- Secure a multi-million dollar endowment;
- Pursue more gifts from individuals and corporations, including an increased number of larger scholarships for bachelor's level programs;
- Identify matching support for graduate students;
- Bring students together more often and with better food;
- Create an endowed chair for the director;
- Secure additional funding for a full-time mentor with benefits, as well as a position for assessment/research/publications;
- Seek support for department mentors;
- Pursue additional funding for supplies, travel, AISES, etc.;
- Build support for the Billy Mills Project - a statue that would honor the Oglala Lakota distance runner from South Dakota who won an Olympic gold medal in 1964.
The Malone Study Rooms
We are thankful for the study space donated by Diane and Bob Malone, dedicated to the memory of Diane's mother Maria “Agnes” Roybal Trujillo on Oct. 14, 2016.
Contact Information
Professor, Industrial Engineering
137 Devereaux Library