The South Dakota School for the Deaf awards scholarships to students who have received services from South Dakota School for the Deaf, are high school seniors, and have provided service to their school and community. Please check our our 2019-2020 scholarship opportunities by clicking here.

2019 Scholarship Recipients

Mia Adams

Mia Adams of Sioux Falls, is the recipient of a $750 Scholarship from the South Dakota School for the Deaf Foundation.Mia plans to attend the University of South Dakota majoring in Psychology with a minor in music. Mia was active in band, marching band, jazz band, pep band playing the clarinet and tenor sax. She was involved in Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) and Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) where she was the State Vice President of Hospitality and Chapter Vice President of Retail Operations. She was active in theater in high school and at the Sioux Falls Community Theater.Mia has worked as a dog sitter and at Target.

Wyatt Anderson

Wyatt Anderson from Canton, is the recipient of a $500 South Dakota School for the Deaf Foundation Scholarship. Wyatt plans to attend the Black Hills State University majoring in Marketing, Accounting, or Economics and Finance. Wyatt is active in band, basketball, football and golf. He participates in Being Understanding of Diverse Students (B.U.D.S) which volunteers in places like the nursing homes, the Banquet, and Love in the Name of Christ (Love INC). He is the National Honor Society. And has worked three years as a lifeguard in Canton.

Emma Bader

Emma Bader of Sioux Falls, was awarded a $500 Scholarship from the South Dakota School for the Deaf Foundation. Emma plans to attend Southeast Technical Institute majoring in Early Childhood. She has participated in the marching band and has over 100 volunteering hours through the Serve and Learn Student Association (SALSA) group. For ten years, she has been involved with Dakota Dachshund Rescue. She has a Junior Black Belt in Taekwondo. Emma has worked for Royal Fork, Leif Erickson Day Camp, Truks and Trykes Daycare, and Boys and Girls Club.

Ethan Dingman

Ethan Dingman from Sioux Falls, is the recipient of a $500 Scholarship from the South Dakota School for the Deaf Foundation. Ethan plans to attend South Dakota State University majoring in Music Education. For two years, Ethan was the first chair in the all state band. He was a section leader and a vocal captain in marching band and choir. Ethan has been a member of state band, show choir, concert choir, chamber singers group, and Dakota Academy of Performing Arts (DAPA) for the past four years. He sings and is a lead in a teen vocal group at church. Ethan works at Schmitt Music.

Alycia Espe-Easton

Alycia Espe-Easton of Black Hawk, was awarded a $500 Scholarship from the South Dakota School for the Deaf Foundation. Alycia plans to attend Western Dakota Technical Institute majoring in Business Management and Technology with a certification in Social Media Marketing. Alycia plays ASA softball. She has been in the Xcel gymnastics since she was 5 years old and is currently a platinum level gymnast. She has helped with the South Dakota Special Olympics and has served meals at the Rapid City homeless shelter. Alycia works at Kohl’s Department Store and Berendse & Sons Paint Co., Inc.

Nathan Hansen

Nathan Hansen from Grant, is the recipient of a $500 Scholarship from the South Dakota School for the Deaf Foundation. Nathan plans to attend Alexandria Technical and Community College studying Marine, Motorcycle, and Powersports Technician. Nathan is the Vice President for the Youth Empowerment Through Involvement in Snowmobiling (YETIS) and is active in his church. He has worked at Berens Warehouse and Groceries and at Midwest Powersports, as well as on the family farm.

Tristen Hildebrandt

Tristen Hildebrandt of Mitchell, was awarded the Minnehaha Sertoma $2,000 Scholarship from the South Dakota School for the Deaf Foundation. Tristen plans to attend University of Sioux Falls majoring in Pre-Professional leading to a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy. She has been in track and field, powerlifting, a student athletic trainer, Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), sideline cheer, Future Business Leaders of America, basketball, volleyball, and National Honor Society. Tristen is active in her community with Buddy Walk, Special Olympics, Love Feast, Trunk or Treat, and Dig Pink for Cancer Awareness.

Shelby Horan

Shelby Horan from Canton, is the recipient of a $1,000 Scholarship from the South Dakota School for the Deaf Foundation. Shelby plans to attend Augustana University majoring in Speech Pathology. She participated in dance, cheer, track and volunteers for the Humane Society and Love in the Name of Christ (Love INC.) Shelby works at Subway.

Alex Kolbeck

Alex Kolbeck of Brandon, was awarded a $500 Scholarship from the South Dakota School for the Deaf Foundation. Alex plans to attend University of South Dakota majoring in Accounting. He was a powerlifting team captain, Boys State Delegate, and Lynx Way Leader. Alex played basketball and ping-pong and was on the A-Honor Roll and National Honor Society. Alex volunteers at his church, Habitat for Humanity, Casper’s Ghost of Christmas.

Shawnna Lofland

Shawnna Lofland from Canton, is the recipient of a $500 Scholarship from the South Dakota School for the Deaf Foundation. Shawnna plans to attend University of Nebraska Lincoln majoring in Biology. Shawnna was in Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), art club, and volleyball. She has received achievement awards in chemistry, graphic design, journalism, art and German. Shawnna works at Canton Dental Clinic.

Becca Monson

Becca Monson of Bath, was awarded a $500 Scholarship from the South Dakota School for the Deaf Foundation. Becca plans to attend Lake Area Technical Institute and enroll in the Law Enforcement Program, then go to Mount Marty College to major in Criminal Justice. She was active in choir, marching band, pep band, cheerleading, Empower Youth, and the Aberdeen Explorer program, which focuses on law enforcement. Becca works at Wendy’s and Boys and Girls Club as a youth director.

Madelyn Powell

Madelyn Powell from Meckling, is the recipient of a $500 Scholarship from the South Dakota School for the Deaf Foundation. Madelyn plans to attend Augustana University majoring in Nursing with a minor in Spanish. Madelyn was in concert band, pep band, marching band, jazz band, theater, drama, investment, Spanish and in the National Honor Society. She works at Gavin’s Point Dam Fish Hatchery and Aquarium and Hartford Steak Company.

Olivia Rogers

Olivia Rogers of Deadwood, was awarded a $500 Scholarship from the South Dakota School for the Deaf Foundation. Oliva plans to attend South Dakota State University majoring in Aviation and Transport. She was active in basketball, track and field, volleyball, FCA, Kiwanis, Key club, and yearbook. She received her academic letter and was 2014-2015 and 2018-2019 Homecoming Queen. Olivia was selected by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to be South Dakota’s representative for the Annual Teen Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., for three years and she won first place at local science fair on the study of Cystic Fibrosis and Infection. Olivia received the Lennis Larson Outstanding Speaker Award at Regional “We the People” Government Competition and received a Certificate of Achievement in Ability and Creativity in “In Vitro Biology” at High Plains Regional Science and Engineering Fair. Olivia works during the summer at RCI, construction company.

Brittney Stratmeyer

Brittney Stratmeyer from Rapid City, is the recipient of the Kevin Roth $1,500 Scholarship from the South Dakota School for the Deaf Foundation. Brittney plans to attend South Dakota School of Mines and Technology majoring in Chemistry. Brittney was involved in tennis, swimming, basketball, piano, bass guitar, and she is currently active in 4-H and her church. She co-launched Black Hills Homeschool Prom “Prom with a Purpose” community service project. Brittany is certified through the American Red Cross as a lifeguard and babysitter and is certified in CPR and first aid. She is a certified member of the Pennington County Emergency Management Community Emergency Response Team, a certified Scuba Diver Rescuer, and a certified Department of Public Safety Drivers Education driver. She is a member of the National Society of High School Scholars and has won the State Swim Meet in the 50 meter freestyle and the 100 meter backstroke. She works at Roosevelt Swim Center.

Jaxon Warkenthien

Jaxon Warkenthien of Brandon, was awarded a $500 Scholarship from the South Dakota School for the Deaf Foundation. Jaxon plans to attend South Dakota State University to become a Radiologic Technician. He participated in basketball, baseball and ping pong. Jaxon is an umpire for the Brandon Valley Baseball Association.

For more information about SDSD Foundation scholarships, contact:

Kim Wadsworth, President - SDSD Foundation

Send an Email!