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Foundation Awards More than $500,000 in Scholarships to Area Students

The Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation has awarded more than $500,000 in scholarships to area students pursuing post-secondary education.

The scholarships are funded by donors who are passionate about changing lives, promoting economic security and investing in the future through the power of education.

“We’ve long believed that philanthropy and education can and must intersect to help drive positive change, said Patrick Gale, vice president for Community Investment. “We are so grateful to the donors behind these scholarship funds for investing in the leaders of tomorrow — young people from across our area who, in their educational pursuits, will be challenged to ask questions, listen, engage in dialogue, learn, serve and explore new ideas. Our 2023 scholars are an extraordinary group of young people and we are confident they will play a vital role in creating a brighter and stronger tomorrow for the world we all call home.”

See the list of 2023 scholarship recipients below. Learn more about our scholars, including their academic pursuits and future plans.

About Scholarship Funds

Scholarship funds at the Community Foundation allow donors to make a meaningful, life-changing charitable contribution, qualify for an immediate tax benefit, and provide scholarships in perpetuity to area students pursuing post-high school education. Learn more about the donors behind our scholarships.

Donors work with the Foundation to design an impactful scholarship fund based on criteria that’s personally meaningful and relevant to current societal needs. Once the fund is established and applications arrive, the Foundation team supports volunteer scholarship evaluators in an annual selection process.


2023 Scholarship Recipients

The following list includes the 2023 scholarship recipients, their hometowns, and the name(s) of the scholarship(s) they were awarded:

  • Tayten Aasheim, Canton, Vince Beck Five Point Scholarship
  • Ivette Alvarado, Sioux Falls, Herman and LaVerne Griller Scholarship
  • Cadence Abbas, Canton, Ralph and Doris Wallin Scholarship
  • Brinlee Allen, Alcester, Anna and Paul Lind Scholarship, Justin Lake College Scholarship
  • Kale Ask, Canton, Frank Lingo Scholarship
  • Kyle Bares, Dell Rapids, Trent Area Scholarship
  • Teya Badger, Brandon, Shon Trimble Memorial Scholarship
  • Grace Barnett, Sioux Falls, Davenport, Evans, Hurwitz & Smith Scholarship
  • Cole Bisbee, Columbia, Hopps Dow Scholarship
  • Owen Bovill, Alcester, Louis H. Shoraga Scholarship
  • Adam Boyens, Sioux Falls, Kiwanis Club of Sioux Falls Community Service Scholarship
  • Alexa Brockmueller, Sioux Falls, Dakota Alliance Soccer Club Student-Athlete Scholarship
  • Rachel Bruggeman, Sioux Falls, James and Bernice Kopperud Scholarship, Waneta Drake Miller Edmison Memorial Scholarship
  • Cord Capp, Faith, Yeager-Afdahl Scholarship
  • Riley Casper, Lake Preston, Norman W. Ranschau Memorial Scholarship
  • Kennedi Cooper, Bancroft, Rush Family Scholarship
  • Lydia Decker, Tea, Tea Area Community Scholarship
  • Mya Dissing, Hartford, Julius A. and Dorothy L. Jacobsen Scholarship
  • Masha Doering, Sioux Falls, Herman and LaVerne Griller Scholarship, Hovik Family Scholarship
  • Hannah Downs, Sioux Falls, Wyatt Ammon Memorial Scholarship
  • Catherine Dunbar, Sioux Falls, Robert and Dr. Judy Nissen Scholarship
  • Kennadi Engel, Sioux Falls, Davenport, Evans, Hurwitz & Smith Scholarship
  • Ellie Evans, Letcher, Kimberly Rose Means - Native American Council of Tribes Scholarship, Osmann Family Native American Scholarship
  • Cambell Fischer, Hartford, Julius A. and Dorothy L. Jacobsen Scholarship
  • Denilson Francisco, Sioux Falls, Karen Bates Trimble WHS Class of 1962 Scholarship, Raymond Eddy Scholarship
  • Sydney Gates, Sioux Falls, James and Bernice Kopperud Scholarship
  • Jendy Gonzalez, Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls Retired Teachers Association Scholarship
  • Alyvia Gorman, Rapid City, Andy Award
  • Ty Graesser, Chamberlain, Siouxland Chapter CFMA Scholarship
  • Abigail Greenhoff, Dell Rapids, Jerry Hoftiezer Memorial Scholarship
  • Claire Guggenmos, Valley Springs, Duane and Bonnie Bly Family Scholarship
  • Seth Gustad, Canton, Frank Lingo Scholarship
  • Caleb Hanten, Groton, Hopps Dow Scholarship
  • Abby Hasart, Huron, Justin Lake Huron/James Valley Christian College Scholarship
  • Jacey Hayen, Sioux Falls, Herman and LaVerne Griller Scholarship
  • Jackson Heiden, Sioux Falls, Robert W. Best Scholarship
  • Maya Heinitz, Dell Rapids, Gloria Rae Beck Scholarship
  • Chase Henderson, Sioux Falls, Katherine A. Larson Scholarship
  • Amber House, Sioux Falls, Davenport, Evans, Hurwitz & Smith Scholarship
  • Braden Husby, Sioux Falls, Rush Family Scholarship
  • Angela Huver, Sioux Falls, James and Bernice Kopperud Scholarship
  • Lindsey Irvine, Sioux Falls, James B. and Vera A. Sadler Graduate Student Scholarship
  • Joshua Jackson, Sioux Falls, Spirit of Sioux Falls Scholarship
  • Hailey Johnke, Lennox, Jon Richter Memorial Scholarship
  • Elizabeth Johnson, Hartford, Davenport, Evans, Hurwitz & Smith Scholarship, Julius A. and Dorothy L. Jacobsen Scholarship
  • Landen Johnson, Sioux Falls, James Stenholtz Scholarship, Ralph and Doris Wallin Scholarship
  • Chase Jones, Dell Rapids, Davenport, Evans, Hurwitz & Smith Scholarship, Fred and Marie Christopherson Scholarship, Jerry Hoftiezer Memorial Scholarship
  • Tate Kogel, Sioux Falls, The Country Club of Sioux Falls Honor Golf Scholarship
  • Kaylin Kraft, Redfield, Joe and Norma Rahm Memorial Scholarship
  • Maria Larson, Sioux Falls, James and Bernice Kopperud Scholarship
  • Rachel Lindholm, Wentworth, Cogley-Buffington CPCU Scholarship
  • Reese Luze, Egan, Trent Area Scholarship
  • Wesley Martinez, Sioux Falls, Bill Barlow “Second Chance” Scholarship
  • Teegan Mason, Frankfort, Joe and Norma Rahm Memorial Scholarship
  • Teancum Maxwell, Faith, Yeager-Afdahl Scholarship
  • Josie McCord, White Lake, Delmar and Rosemary Skluzak Family Scholarship
  • Josh Merkle, Harrisburg, Harrison-Joslyn Memorial Scholarship
  • Peyton Meyer, Alcester, Delmer Scott Award, Mary Scott Award
  • Katherine Mickelson, Sioux Falls, Kiwanis Club of Sioux Falls Community Service Scholarship
  • Avery Miles, Turton, Gordon Ingwersen Scholarship
  • Bergun Moeller, Worthing, Jon Richter Memorial Scholarship
  • Matthew Muston, Renner, Kent Hegge Memorial Scholarship
  • Mara Nelson, Sioux Falls, Kiwanis Club of Sioux Falls Scholarship
  • Swayze Ness, Kimball, Delmar and Rosemary Skluzak Family Scholarship
  • Tristan Niewenhuis, Brandon, Fred and Marie Christopherson Scholarship
  • Amber Oakland, Sioux Falls, James B. and Vera A. Sadler Undergraduate Scholarship
  • Brayden Oakland, Canton, Viola Lingo Watson Scholarship
  • Alexandra Panic, Sioux Falls, Jim and Fran Foss Scholarship, Washington High Alumni Scholarship
  • Caden Patzwald, Sioux Falls, Robert W. Best Scholarship
  • Tyler Payer, Fort Pierre, Siouxland Chapter CFMA Scholarship
  • Isaiah Peters, Brandon, Landon Wulf BVHS Scholarship
  • Cole Peterson, Sioux Falls, Jim and Fran Foss Scholarship, Joe Foss “An American Hero” Scholarship
  • Payton Pickering, Harrisburg, Davenport, Evans, Hurwitz & Smith Scholarship
  • Daniel Porraz-Lopez, Sioux Falls, Equitable Sioux Empire Scholarship
  • Zachary Post, Eagan, MN, Hovland Scholarship
  • Elizabeth Price, Dell Rapids, Ralph and Doris Wallin Scholarship, Regina “Grandma” Evans Scholarship, Verne and Ardith Forbes Scholarship
  • Seth Raap, Sioux Falls, Herman and LaVerne Griller Scholarship
  • Pawan Rai, Sioux Falls, Herman and LaVerne Griller Scholarship, Sally Bertina Meyer Scholarship
  • Adrienne Revier, Sioux Falls, Jim and Fran Foss Scholarship, Mark Bielen Scholarship
  • Jan Riva Saravia, Sioux Falls, Waneta Drake Miller Edmison Memorial Scholarship
  • Brooklyn Rombough, Crooks, Julius A. and Dorothy L. Jacobsen Scholarship
  • Selena Russell, Sioux Falls, Jim and Fran Foss Scholarship
  • Jada Sandvall, Sioux Falls, James and Bernice Kopperud Scholarship
  • Katelynn Scherff, Trent, Trent Area Scholarship
  • Griffen Schnider, Tea, Justin Lake Tea College Scholarship
  • Aden Scott, Sioux Falls, Joe Foss “An American Hero” Scholarship
  • Jordan Shanks, Sioux Falls, Dakota Alliance Soccer Club Student-Athlete Scholarship
  • Sanjeev Shyam, Sioux Falls, Davenport, Evans, Hurwitz & Smith Scholarship
  • Connor Siemonsma, Humboldt, Julius A. and Dorothy L. Jacobsen Scholarship
  • Parker Sisson, Harrisburg, Ralph and Doris Wallin Scholarship
  • Ethan Skarnagel, Claire City, Myrtle and David Blomquist Scholarship
  • Adisen Stadem, Dell Rapids, Dale Lokke Law Enforcement Scholarship, Herman and LaVerne Griller Scholarship
  • Megan Sundvold, Sioux Falls, Jim and Pat Croston Family Scholarship
  • Kailee Taborda, Sioux Falls, James B. and Vera A. Sadler Undergraduate Scholarship
  • Logan Taylor, Sioux Falls, Independent Insurance Agents of Sioux Falls Scholarship, Joe Foss “An America Hero” Scholarship
  • Kayleigh Thompson, Alcester, Harry Lee Scholarship
  • Alyvia Trumm, Canton, Harrison-Joslyn Memorial Scholarship
  • Kim Ueng, Sioux Falls, Spirit of Sioux Falls Scholarship
  • Emma Van Regenmorter, Dell Rapids, Arthur O. Moe Scholarship
  • Dayana Vivar, Sioux Falls, Robert W. Best Scholarship
  • Allie Weber, Sioux Falls, Davenport, Evans, Hurwitz & Smith Scholarship, Fred and Marie Christopherson Scholarship, Kiwanis Club of Sioux Falls Community Service Scholarship
  • Leah Wiechelman, Winner, Joe Foss “An American Hero” Scholarship
  • Brandon Weiland, Trent, Jeremy Baum “Hope” Scholarship, Regina “Grandma” Evans Scholarship, Trent Area Scholarship
  • Marie Weller, Redfield, Joe Foss “An American Hero” Scholarship
  • Ariahna Wells, Sioux Falls, Kiwanis Club of Sioux Falls Community Service Scholarship
  • Ella Wiese, Sioux Falls, Raymond Eddy Scholarship
  • Eliza Wilgers, Tea, Tea Area Community Scholarship
  • Hunter Wilson, Tea, Tea Area Community Scholarship
  • Nathaniel Wilts, Brandon, Joe Foss “An American Hero” Scholarship
  • Zander Wissink, Sioux Falls, Jim and Fran Foss Scholarship
  • Hunter Wright, Brandon, Hovland Scholarship
  • Zachary Wrightsman, Sioux Falls, Waneta Drake Miller Edmison Memorial Scholarship
  • Callista Xavier, Dell Rapids, David Jay Schmidt Memorial Scholarship, Junior League of Sioux Falls Memorial and Tribute Scholarship
  • Niyongabo Yohana, Sioux Falls, Raymond Eddy Scholarship