SDSD Foundation Scholarships
South Dakota Services for the Deaf Foundation awards scholarships to students who have received services from South Dakota Services for the Deaf, are high school seniors, and have provided service to their school and community. There have been many past recipients from around the state of South Dakota.
2024 Scholarship Recipients
Anya Woodall of Brookings is the recipient of the $1,000.00 South Dakota Services for the Deaf Foundation Scholarship. Anya’s plans are unclear as to where she will attend, but she is anticipating a career in dental hygiene. While in high school, Anya made an effort to try various sports to see where she would excel. Softball was her passion, and she was kept busy year-round between practices and weekend tournaments. She needed a flexible job due to softball and was hired part-time at the SDSU bookstore. She has been there for two years now and even helps train new employees in the various areas of the bookstore.
In addition to her various community projects through her softball club, she helped out with the GracePoint Church youth group.
Anya hopes to enter a technical school where she can study to become a dental hygienist. She liked the idea that being a dental hygienist is a hands-on field and feels that she is good at interacting with people. She sees dental hygiene as a cleaning service that helps people feel good about themselves and keeps them healthy.
Anya knows that the schooling will be challenging, but she believes she has the soft skills to do the job well.
Broderick Wahle of Sioux Falls is the recipient of the $1,125 South Dakota Services for the Deaf Foundation Scholarship. Broderick plans to attend Dakota State University majoring in cyber operations and digital forensics.
While in high school, Broderick was active in track and field, and the Honors program and has always had an interest in technology.
Broderick’s love and fascination for technology started from a young age and has continued. He wants to continue to learn everything he can about the technology field.
Cara McGary of Harrisburg is the recipient of the $1,125 South Dakota Services for the Deaf Foundation Scholarship. Cara plans to attend South Dakota State University, majoring in nursing. While in high school, Cara was very active in the Competitive Cheer team for six years. She also participated in sideline football and was captain during her senior year. In her senior year, she decided to try something new and started doing Track & Field in sprints and long jumps.
In addition to her schooling, Cara has worked at Touchmark At All Saints as a server for three years and plans to continue working weekends through college. She has also volunteered at the St. Francis House as she loves helping people and ensuring they feel loved by the community.
Cara’s long-term goal is to become a nurse practitioner specializing in a certain area. Cara has always loved working with people and helping and caring for others.
Carmen Herrera of Redfield is the recipient of the $1,000.00 Jerry and Barbara Mach Memorial Scholarship. Carmen plans to attend South Dakota State University, majoring in nursing. While in high school, Carmen was active in FBLA, FCCLA, Track, Basketball, NJHS and NHS.
While in high school in addition to working part-time at Subway, Carmen did job shadowing at Sanford Hospital, which lead her to career path of a nursing degree.
Carmen has helped with youth group girls basketball and the youth church group. In addition, she has volunteered her services at nursing homes for the church.
What helped with Carmen’s decision to go into nursing was that she enjoys caring for others. She considers herself to be very nurturing which is an excellent quality to have in the nursing field. She would like to someday work as a traveling nurse to help many people in different areas of the country before returning to settle down in South Dakota.
Joel Dahlhoff of Vermillion is the recipient of the $1,000.00 South Dakota Services for the Deaf Foundation Scholarship. Joel plans to attend Lake Area Technical College, majoring in aviation maintenance technology. While Joel was born deaf at 17 months old, he was fortunate to receive cochlear implants in both ears. Over the years, he has had a growing interest in ASL and is now taking ASL 2. He hopes to further his education and become fluent in ASL.
While in high school, Joel was active in band. He also lettered in soccer, cross country, baseball, and track. He was a member of the National Honor Society. Along with many school activities and part-time jobs while in high school, he found time to do quite a bit of volunteer work in various areas.
Joel is on track to earn his Private Pilot Certificate this summer and plans to attend Aviation Maintenance Technology at Lake Area Technical College in the fall of 2024. He hopes to learn and earn his airframe and powerplant license to allow him to legally work on airplanes. When the time comes, Joel hopes to use the knowledge he gained to attend engineering school and major in aerospace engineering.
Rebekah Burr of Sioux Falls is the recipient of the $1,125.00 Kevin Roth Scholarship. Rebekah plans to attend Gallaudet University in Washington, DC. She would like to someday work as a social worker or therapist.
While in high school, Rebekah was active in student council, basketball, track, and cross country.
In addition to her activities in school, Rebekah also worked part-time at Thunder Road and Hy-Vee. Still, she volunteered at Camp UBU as a junior staff member, zookeeper for the summer, and at the Humane Society.
Helping and caring for people is what she has always done in and out of school, and she plans to do that in her future career.
Sadie Ellingsen of Spearfish is the recipient of the $1,250 South Dakota Services for the Deaf Foundation Scholarship. Sadie plans to attend the University of South Dakota, majoring in Elementary Education and Special Education.
While in high school, Sadie was on the Student Council, was Vice President of her 2024 class, played softball for ten years on travel and school teams with team captain status, and was also in the National Honor Society. While attending high school, she worked part-time at the Millstone Family Restaurant and interned at West Elementary in the special education room. In addition, Sadie has volunteered at Special Olympics, animal shelters, and community clean-up days.
Sadie plans to major in elementary and special education and minor in psychology and deaf education. While attending high school, she earned over 40 credits toward her major. She wants to further her education to help others with disabilities as she has been helped throughout her life.
Tierney Breen of Woonsocket is the recipient of the $1,000.00 South Dakota Services for the Deaf Foundation Scholarship. Tierney plans to attend Mitchell Technical College, majoring in agriculture business.
While in high school, Tierney was a member of the National Honor Society, HOSA, FFA, 4H, South Dakota High School Rodeo Association, track and field, and volunteered with Special Olympics. Tierney plans to continue participating in rodeo as she has done since she was old enough to work and has been fortunate enough to travel all over the country doing what she loves. In addition to that, she worked part-time jobs and helped with the family farm.
Once she completes her degree in agriculture business, Tierney would like to continue her education and complete another degree in agronomy to eventually become an agronomist.
Tukker Boe of Midland is the recipient of the $1,125 South Dakota Services for the Deaf Foundation Scholarship. Tukker plans to attend Dakota Weslyn University, majoring in computer science.
While in high school, Tukker was very active in sports, including wrestling, cross country, track and field, and football. In addition, he was in FFA, FCCLA, and also on Student Council. Tukker also managed to work part-time and also volunteered at various organizations.
As an aspiring computer scientist, his passion for technology is deeply rooted in a curiosity for problem-solving and innovation; pursuing a career in computer science is not merely a professional choice but a journey toward mastering the language of the future.