STC’s new early childhood specialist program can get Build Dakota scholarship

Southeast Technical College’s new Early Childhood Specialist associate degree program has been approved for full-ride Build Dakota Scholarships.

These scholarships cover all of the recipient’s tuition, fees, books and uniforms and are available for 30 of the college’s “most in-demand careers,” according to a press release from STC. In exchange, students must work in South Dakota for three years after graduating.

STC President Cory Clasemann said in the release that there’s a great demand nationwide and particularly in the Sioux Falls region for childcare providers.

More: South Dakotans bring new early childhood education ideas home from Hunt Institute Summit

Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken has said the lack of reliable, affordable daycare is the “No. 1 issue that is affecting our workforce crunch right now.” A past report by the Sioux Falls Child Care Collaborative found about 2,000 children of working parents do not have child-care spots available to them, and an estimated 4,000 parents in the city are not in the workforce but could be if they had day care available.

“We are hopeful that by having a scholarship option for our students, we can educate more individuals and help fill this workforce void,” Clasemann stated.

To qualify for a Build Dakota Scholarship in the Early Childhood program, students must have an industry sponsor. This school year, STC has awarded 164 Build Dakota Scholarships, all of which were sponsored by an industry partner.

STC Build Dakota coordinator Kelli Rogotzke said in the release that industry matching allows STC to stretch scholarship dollars and helps area employers fill workforce pipelines.

The scholarship window for the 2025-26 academic year will open Jan. 1 through March 31. Learn more at STC’s website.