Elton D. Schafer Scholarship

The Elton D. Schafer Scholarship provides $2,000-$5,000 per year, renewable for four years for a total of $8,000-$20,000, and will be awarded to outstanding high school seniors from South Dakota each year based on ACT/SAT scores or GPA and extracurricular activities. Students must major in biochemistry, chemistry, physics, or computer science. Students are chosen through a competitive interview selection process. At a minimum, students selected to interview must have a 30 or higher ACT composite or superscore (or SAT equivalent) or have a GPA of 3.9 or higher, and have extensive leadership and extracurricular involvement. The scholarship application will be available in the MyState portal on Oct. 1, 2025, with priority given to applications received on or before Dec. 1, 2025. To apply, complete the Academic Scholarship Application. The invitation to interview for this competitive scholarship will be sent via the mail to students by December 31. The on-campus interviews take place in late January. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the Office of Financial Aid for more information.