Available Scholarships

Each year thousands of dollars in scholarships are awarded to deserving students from scholarship funds administered by the Watertown Area Community Foundation.

Scholarship applications are available as noted in italics after each scholarship title.  

Edward M. & Ruth Belatti Music: Watertown High School
Any graduating Watertown High School senior pursuing a baccalaureate degree in music who is deemed to have the highest potential to succeed in earning a degree in music.

Harriett Cartney & Donald & Betty Blankenship Memorial

D.A.S.H.: Watertown Police Department
Applicant must be a graduating Watertown High School senior who resides in Codington County. Applicant must have minimum of 3.0 GPA and attend a college or university with an interest in health or a civil service related field.

Dahl Family: Watertown High School
Any graduating Watertown Senior High School student who plans to further their education.

DeBerg Family Scholarship Fund in Memory of Dorothy DeBerg: Codington Co. Ext. Ofc.               A Codington County senior who excelled in 4-H.

Kimberly Ann Erling Spanish: Watertown High School
The recipient must study Spanish in college but not necessarily major or minor in the language.  

Kayla Jean Felstet Even Memorial: Castlewood, Clark, Florence, Hamlin, Henry, Watertown, Waverly/South Shore                                                                                                                                        The recipient will be entering Lake Area Technical College for Human Services.

Folkerts Family: Lake Area Technical College
Offering scholarship to a student attending Lake Area Technical College enrolled in Building Trades, Medical, Hospitality, Agriculture, or Technology fields.

Jerry Grotewold: Foundation Office & Qualifying High Schools
Any graduating Senior that is a resident of South Dakota within a 60-mile radius of Watertown. Scholarship will be awarded for tuition and books for attendance at a post-secondary institution to study in an agriculture related field.

Gunter Family: WIN-E-MAC Alumni Association
Offering two scholarships to Win-E-Mac graduates from Erskine, MN. The intent of this scholarship is to assist students in the pursuit of their academic advancement.

Jamie A. Isaacson: Lake Area Technical College
Offering scholarship to a student attending Lake Area Technical College, Watertown, SD, enrolled in an industrial field.

R.P. “Pete” Kliegle Aviation MemorialLake Area Technical College
The recipient will be a second year student in an Aviation program at Lake Area Technical College.

Wayne Arnold Keup & Donus Roberts Speech & Debate: Watertown High School                            Will be awarded to a WHS debate team member going on to receive higher education and who is determined by WHS faculty committee to have financial need. If a debate team member does not qualify then a scholarship recipient who meets the criteria shall be chosen.

KXLG – Dean Johnson Business: Foundation Office & Qualifying High Schools
Any graduating senior who is a resident of South Dakota within a 60-mile radius of Watertown, SD. The recipient will be attending a post-secondary institution majoring in business or a related field of study.

KXLG – David J. Law Journalism: Foundation Office & Qualifying High Schools
Any graduating senior who is a resident of South Dakota within a 60-mile radius of Watertown, SD. The recipient will be attending a post-secondary institution majoring in journalism or a related field of study.

Jon LaFramboise YETIS Scholarship: South Dakota Snowmobile Association                             Awarded to a graduating student involved in the YETIS program.

Lake City Hospitality, Inc. dba Quality Inn & Suites: Lake Area Technical College                  Students attending LATC enrolled in the medical, building trades or business field.

Leadership Watertown (2/Half-Scholarships): Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce
This scholarship will award two half-scholarships annually to cover Leadership Watertown program fee.

Edith “Ede” Magedanz Registered Nurse: Foundation Office & High Schools in counties listed below:
Open to graduating high school seniors from Codington, Deuel, Grant, Hamlin or Roberts County, South Dakota; or Traverse County, Minnesota, who are pursuing an RN degree.

Lyle Marquis Family: Watertown High School
Scholarship will be awarded to the student who needs financial help pursuing post high school studies and have demonstrated, through high school performance, a reasonable chance for success on the post high school level.

Nellie Newcomb: Watertown High School
Nellie Newcomb scholarship in Memory of Treva Ginther is awarded to a Watertown High School senior. Applicant must attend an accredited South Dakota college or trade school and have at least a 3.0 GPA, have participated in music during high school, have participated in community service or has worked at a job.

Ruth Chase Olson: Watertown High School
This scholarship is for a graduating Watertown High School Senior majoring in English or a related field to include music and theater, at a college or university. Applicant must have minimum of 3.0 GPA and must be registered as a full-time student.

Dennis Holien - Persona Inc.: Persona Human Resource Dept.                                                Established in memory of Dennis "Denny" Holien, founder of Persona, Inc. Denny's passion for youth and education, in conjunction with his philanthropic and entrepreneurial spirit, make this scholarship a long-lasting part of his legacy in which he can give back to the loyal and dedicated employees he took pride in. For students who are children, step-children or grandchildren of Persona employees.

Thomas E. Peterson: Deuel High School
These scholarships shall be awarded to graduating Senior High School students that are residents of Deuel County, South Dakota. The recipients will have maintained an overall “B” grade point average or its equivalent during their last three years of high school. Consideration shall be given to the financial situation of the applicants and their parents, and preference among qualified applicants shall be given to those with greatest need.

Crystal Quail (two awarded – one for four-year school, other for two-year): Watertown High School
Any graduating Watertown High School senior going to college in South Dakota or to an out-of-state school that has a reciprocity agreement with South Dakota. Preference will be given to students entering any science, engineering, or technology field.

Gene & Mary Lois Reichling Memorial: Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce
Watertown area graduating senior going to post-secondary school. The student and families have been or must be active and involved in either agriculture 4H and/or Watertown Winter Farm Show.

Frank & Mathilda Rueb: Watertown High School
Any graduating Watertown High School senior with at least 2.5 GPA, must attend a recognized and accredited junior college, college, or university & must be pursuing Bachelor’s Degree in the Arts.

Sheila Jean Rueb Memorial: Watertown High School
Applicants must be a graduating Watertown High School senior with at least 2.5 GPA.  Applicant must attend a junior college, college or university, and must be pursuing a degree in a health-related field.

Ervin H. & Sybil E. Schafer: Lake Area Technical College
Any graduates from Watertown High school or Florence High School attending Lake Area Technical College, Watertown, South Dakota, enrolled in courses which are related to agriculture.

Robert Schurrer 4-H: Codington County Extension Office Awarded to a high school graduate with an outstanding record in the agriculture project area.

Sister Hyacinth Memorial: Watertown High School
Watertown High School applicants must have been in Foster Care at some time during their K-12 grade years and Watertown High School graduating senior with at least a 2.5 GPA.

Patty Trigg & Mary Rueb Conner Music Scholarship: Watertown High School                    Watertown High School graduating senior pursuing arts degree in music and/or entertainment field.

Jesse D. and Jessie E. Vincent Memorial: Watertown High School
The winners will be based on need, character, and high school scholastic performance. To be eligible, an applicant must have a cumulative 3.0 GPA for the first seven semesters of high school. 

WACF Women & Giving: Mt. Marty College-Watertown Campus or Lake Area Technical College
Scholarships awarded to non-traditional, female students.

Watertown Area Snow Queen Scholarship: Watertown High School                                           Scholarships for Junior Watertown Area Snow Queens to use at a post-secondary school, for a career readiness program, or a professional licensure.

Watertown Community Hall of Fame Scholarship: Watertown High School                           Awarded to an outstanding student who demonstrates excellent leadership skills and plans to attend Lake Area Technical College.

Kevin & Mindy Wirkus Family: Foundation and Qualifying High SchoolsFor applicants graduating high school within a 60-mile radius of Watertown and pursuing post-secondary study in drug and/or alcohol counseling or law enforcement.