Scholarships
Scholarships for first-year students are administered by the Office of Admissions.
Scholarships for students with declared majors are administered within the respective academic departments; please contact the departments directly for criteria and application procedures:
The College of Arts and Sciences also administers a variety of scholarships, made possible by the generous contributions of alumni. The precise amounts vary annually, depending on the earnings of the endowments. Please direct inquiries directly to the Dean's Office for the following scholarships:
John W. Addie Award
Recipient must be a junior or senior student in the College of Arts and Sciences with a good academic record. Preference is given to a male student from Douglas County, SD. Award may be given to multiple students if funds are available.
Akeley-Lawrence-Norgren Scholarship
This award was established in 1951 by Carl A. Norgren, President of the C.A. Norgren Company in Englewood, CA (manufacturers of Pneumatic Products) and Ernest O. Lawrence in memory of Lewis Akeley who influenced generations of USD students.
Dr. Akeley served as the Dean of the Engineering School at USD from 1907 to 1933. One of his most outstanding students was E.O. Lawrence, who later became a Nobel Laureate. The scholarship honors both Akeley and Lawrence. Norgren's name was added to the scholarship after his death.
Recipients must be junior or senior students majoring in Earth Sciences, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics or Computer Science. The award is given to multiple students.
Harold E. Brookman Scholarship
This award was established in 1957 with gifts from friends of Professor Harold E. Brookman at the time of his retirement. Dr. Brookman served as Professor of Applied Science at USD from 1921 to 1956.
This annual scholarship is awarded to a student enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences, who at the end of the sophomore year has earned a grade point above the average of the sophomore class, and who through a fundamental understanding of the natural sciences, mathematics, and human relations, shows definite promise of leadership in one of the fields of industry.
The Dean Joseph H. Cash Award for Excellence in Writing
Joseph Harper Cash was a Duke Research Professor of History at USD. He served as director of the American Indian Research Project, the Oral History Center, and the Institute of American Indian Studies. He was Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences for ten years. Dr. Cash was the author of numerous books and articles on South Dakota history, mining, Indians, and oral history.
The awards are given annually to A&S students who best demonstrate an ability to communicate ideas clearly through writing. The awards are intended to acknowledge student excellence and encourage the faculty in the liberal arts and sciences to teach writing skills and require written components at all levels of instruction.
John W. Carlson Research Grant
This grant will be used to support research by students in the College of Arts and Sciences. Candidates may be either graduate or undergraduate students. Candidates must be nominated by a faculty member who will write a reference letter that addresses the student's competence and ability to complete the research. The student must submit a description of the research project and a current transcript.
Dakota Alumnae Prize for Senior Women
This scholarship was established in 1924 by two USD alumnae, Estelle Bennett Boot (1896) and her sister Estella May Boot (1901). It was re-established in 1981 by G.W. Boot, in memory of his mother, Estelle Bennett Boot. Mary B. Farnham, first cousin of G.W. Boot and niece of Estelle Bennett Boot and Estella May Boot, re-established the scholarship again in 1988.
Earnings generated from this account are used to provide a prize each year for a female member of the senior class who evidences the highest ideals of scholarship and citizenship.
Elbert and Marjorie Harrington Book Award
This endowed account was established in 1976 by Dean Elbert W. Harrington and friends. The earnings from this fund are to be used to purchase books for the departments of Biology, Chemistry, Classics, Communication Disorders, Earth Sciences/Physics, English, History, Mathematics, Modern Languages, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology/Social Behavior/Anthropology, and Communication Studies as designated by Dean Harrington.
Elbert and Marjorie Harrington Scholarship
This scholarship was established in 1969 by Dr. Seth Walton in honor of Elbert and Marjorie Harrington. Elbert Harrington was a Professor in the Department of Communication at USD and served as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences from 1948 to 1967. His wife Marjorie's main interest in life was educating young people.
This award is given to a deserving junior or senior in the College of Arts and Sciences who exemplifies the qualities of liberal education, a breadth of knowledge, and beginning of specialization.
Nelson Shield Award
This shield is made of the pure copper from Lord Nelson's own Flagships, stamped with King Edward's Cipher, E.R. VII, by Royal Command, and provided by the Lord's of the Admiralty. It must not be taken away. It may be used for competition in sports or as an award for regularity, punctuality or any form of achievement, for essays on the Empire, seapower, exploration, colonization, citizenship, or kindred subjects. It is intended to stand for Faith in God, the Unity of the British Empire, and the importance of Duty in all the walks of life.
This award was presented to The University of South Dakota in 1920 by Dr. Charles Ernest Coles, Chaplain, Veteran of Foreign Wars, Fort Hays, Kansas. He suggested that the shield be awarded to a student(s) in the College of Arts and Sciences who shall be found to have the highest average in his or her work during their junior year. The name of the recipient is engraved in metal and displayed in a prominent position in the College.
Margaret Stansbury Stockton Scholarship
This scholarship was established in 1968 at the bequest of Frank T. Stockton of Lawrence, Kansas (a former USD staff member). It is in memory of his wife Margaret, who was known for her leadership skills.
This award is to be made for significant contributions by a student (either undergraduate or graduate) in unpaid services to community projects such as recreation, mental health, hospitals, work with the mentally challenged, or minority group work.
Benjamin and Helen B. Treml Scholarship
The Benjamin and Helen B. Treml Scholarship, an endowed fund, was established by Helen Treml in 1995. It was funded by a bequest from her estate, and is to be known as the "Benjamin and Helen B. Treml Endowment." Her expressed intent was that the fund be used for scholarships for students at USD who are "interested in studying engineering or, if available, something to do with traffic, as Benjamin was a dedicated railroad employee during his lifetime."
Applicants must be enrolled in or accepted at USD and meet all departmental requirements to be a graduate or undergraduate student in good standing. Scholarship applicants should include a statement explaining their interest in engineering, traffic or other transportation-related subjects. research fellowships applicants shall submit a research proposal indicating the relationship of the proposed study to engineering, traffic or other transportation-related subjects.
Glenn E. and Barbara R. Ullyot Scholarship Endowment
Dr. Glenn E. and Barbara R. Ullyot established in February 1993 an endowed scholarship fund within the USD Foundation to be used for the benefit of undergraduate students, preferably to be given, but not limited, to students pursuing a degree program in the Department(s) of Chemistry, Biology, Earth Sciences, or Physics, in the College of Arts and Sciences.
After graduation from Clark High School, Clark, S.D., Dr. Ullyot began his higher education at USD in 1927, where he spent two years as an undergraduate and was introduced to organic chemistry in the lectures of Professor William Pardee. Dr. Ullyot later went on to receive his bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of Minnesota and his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois. Having learned firsthand the value and fruits of an advanced education, he wished to encourage and support high school graduates from South Dakota to pursue their dreams at The University. Their success will be his reward and contribution to society.
Please contact us for more information about any of these scholarships.