The South Dakota Retailers Association scholarship program is designed to provide assistance to students studying for a career in retail and hospitality businesses, whether as an owner, manager, or employee. In 2019, our Scholarship Committee awarded funds to four students, in amounts ranging from $2,250 to $3,000.

The program is named in honor of former Executive Director Jerry Wheeler, who started the program in 1992. Since then, the
Association has awarded 252 scholarships, totaling $181,500!

Questions? Give us call at (605)224-5050,  ask for Donna!
SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY
  • Applicant must desire a career in a retail or retail-related field. 
  • To be eligible, applicant must enroll in a retail or retail-related course of study at a qualifying, accredited technical school, college, university, or certified professional training institute in the fall of 2020. Enrollment in an online degree program from a qualifying school is acceptable. 
  • Examples of fields of study considered to be retail or retail-related include (but are not limited to): Accounting, Agribusiness, Apparel Merchandising, Auto Mechanics, Automotive Technology, Business Administration, Business Management, Collision Repair, Computer Science, Commercial Baking, Culinary Arts, Diesel Mechanics, Electrical Maintenance, Gemology, Grocery, Heating/Ventilation, Hotel/Restaurant Management, Landscape Design, Pharmacy, Photography, Printing Industries, Refrigeration, Sales/Marketing Management, and Tourism Industry Management. (NOTE: this list is not all-inclusive.) 
  • South Dakota Education: 
    • Graduated from a South Dakota high school
    • Have earned high school equivalency (such as a GED) in South Dakota
    • Plan to attend post-secondary school in South Dakota 
  • Applicant must have completed at least 24 credits from a qualifying college or university, or 12 credits from a qualifying tech school or certified professional training institute by September of 2020 to be eligible. We will consider full-time post-secondary work experience in lieu of the post-secondary education requirement.