Dakotaland Federal Credit Union awarded 10 area students with $10,000 in College Scholarships for the 2025-26 school year. Eleven committee members from across Dakotaland’s ten branch communities judged over 70 scholarship applications. "“I am in awe of how our area youth have chosen to dedicate their time and talents to their local communities. In addition, several of the scholarship applicants shared their plans to return to their hometowns after school and continue donating their talents to make their communities stronger for future generations. This dedication to community is very admirable”, stated Amy Kleinschmit, Scholarship Committee Member and Bank Secrecy Act Officer/Internal Counsel.
The following winners were each awarded $1,000 to use toward their continued education. Aurora Dreyer of Huron, SD will graduate from Huron High School and will be attending Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, SD majoring in Elementary Education or Children’s Ministry. Samuel Gigov of DeSmet, SD will graduate from DeSmet High School and will be attending South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD majoring in Mechanical Engineering. Jameson Degen of Volga, SD will graduate from Sioux Valley High School and has not yet declared where he will be attending in the fall but does intend to major in Engineering and Mathematics. Taylor Lien of Huron, SD will graduate from Huron High School and will be attending South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD majoring in Mathematics and Data Science. Bryce Larson of Letcher, SD will graduate from Sanborn Central High School and will be attending South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD majoring in Ag & Bio Systems Engineering. Madisyn Raymond of Ethan, SD will graduate from Ethan High School and will be attending South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD majoring in Ag Communications and Political Science. Kirsten DeGeest Huron, SD will graduate from Huron High School and will be attending South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD majoring in Elementary Education. Rylan Grassel of Woonsocket, SD will graduate from Woonsocket High School and is currently undecided where he will attend in the fall but plans to major in Ag Production or Agronomy. Adriana Ratigan of Frankfort, SD will graduate from Northwestern Area High School and will be attending Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, SD majoring in Elementary and Special Education. Nastasia Scholl of Huron, SD is a homeschool student and will graduate this spring with plans to attend the University of Sioux Falls majoring in Psychology and Theater/Communications.
“Celebrating these milestones with our young members is truly an honor. Their accomplishments are impressive, and the credit union is focused on providing this next generation of leaders the support they need to succeed,” added Credit Union President, Ryan Goehner.
Dakotaland Federal Credit Union has locations in Huron, Volga, Brookings, Madison, Redfield, Aberdeen, De Smet, Mitchell, Watertown, and Woonsocket. With over 45,000 members and $700 million in assets, Dakotaland continues to be locally owned and operated offering a full line of financial services to its membership since 1935.
