Counselor’s Corner | Winner School District

Counselor's Corner

Welcome to the Counselor’s Corner! I will be posting any and all pertinent information on college rep visits, college visitation days, financial aid information, and the local scholarships being offered to seniors on this page.

Please check this page often – it will contain a great deal of information that will be good to know.

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A college admissions office wants to see more than just high test scores and grades.

How can you separate yourself from the crowd?

On Your Applications:

Grades and standardized test scores: It’s obvious, but these marks are one of the first things colleges look at.
Extracurricular Activities: Quantity doesn’t mean quality. Have you taken a leadership role in your chosen activities? What have you accomplished?
Rigorous course schedule: Schools want to see challenging courses that will help you grow academically. Don’t take classes just to pad your GPA.
Follow the rules: If an application asks you to choose one essay, don’t answer them all. Read the application directions completely before answering any questions.
Include everything: Verify all forms have been signed and that you’ve included all essays and recommendations. Double check that you haven’t left out anything important.
On-time arrival: Note when the application deadline is and send it in with plenty of time to spare. You may want to send your application via certified mail for added assurance that it arrived on time.

On Your Application Essay:

Show, Don’t tell: Don’t just list your attributes; get specific. For example, saying that you’re helpful is not as dynamic as relating your experiences with helping younger students learn how to read.
Creativity counts: Avoid clichés or standard essay topics. Try to come up with something an admissions office hasn’t seen a million times before.
No spelling errors: First, spell check your essay. Then, read it again for usage mistakes. Have a parent or guardian look it over for the spelling and grammar errors.
Personality: The application essay is your opportunity to show your prospective college what makes you you. Ask yourself whether what you’ve written is memorable, engaging and in your own voice.

In Your Interview:

Arrive early and dress the part: Know where the interview will be held ahead of time so you won’t arrive late. Dress on the conservative and understated side. If you have questions about the dress code, call the college and ask.
Identity: Admissions offices want to know you as a person. If you are discussing your accomplishments, highlight why they are meaningful for you, or what you got out of them.
Spontaneity, positivity, confidence: Sounding like you’re reading off of a cue card won’t leave them with a fond memory. It’s a good idea to rehearse, but remember that the interview should be a conversation. Be natural, sure of yourself and optimistic about your future college career.
Interest in the college: Come prepared with questions or impressions you have about the college to demonstrate your interest level. Place less emphasis on your plans after graduation and more on what you want to learn and accomplish while a college student. Follow up with a thank you note.

SETTING UP COLLEGE VISITS AND SEEING REPS:

All college visits can be scheduled with Val and a pass to see incoming reps can be given by Val or Bailey. If you would like to visit with a college representative, stop to see if they are coming soon.

Upcoming College Rep visits:

Senior College Fair – Mitchell – September 20th – ALL SENIORS ALL DAY

Lake Area Tech – October 26th @8:30

As always if you want to see a rep – stop and get a pass before they come. All reps will be set up in a room so students can visit with them.

Seniors: It will soon be scholarship season! We have a wonderfully generous community and offer a lot of local scholarships. The easiest thing to do is to look at the list of scholarships on the scholarship page, print it off, highlight the ones that you qualify for and then go to the PDF Scholarship page and fill them out. Most of them are fillable PDF’s but some are not. It is always best to type on them, so the best thing to do for the ones that are not fillable is to download them, and then open them in Adobe Acrobat DC reader, and then you can use the fill and sign option. As always, if you have questions, come in and ask Val!

Financial Aid is key to any college education, whether you are planning on paying for it yourself or applying for aid, every student should fill out their FAFSA. This is how they collect demographic and financial information to calculate the Student Aid Index and determine how much money you can receive in grants, loans, and scholarships. You must complete this YEARLY if you want aid.

FAFSA is new! Last year, it underwent a huge upgrade and it is still being worked on. It will not open up until December 1, 2024 for this year’s seniors. We will host a Financial Aid meeting to help seniors and their parents apply for aid. Look for more information to come in November.

FAFSA Instructions www.studentaid.gov
This site gives instructions on how to complete the FAFSA form, the purpose of the questions, and how to report information about unusual circumstances.

FAFSA on the Web www.fafsa.ed.gov/
This site will allow you to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and submit it online.

Great Lakes Home Page www.mygreatlakes.org
This web page contains financial aid and other information for students and parents.

US Government Page for Students www.students.gov
This site contains links directing students to: applying for student aid, completing the FAFSA online, asking questions of a financial aid advisor, finding state financial aid. In addition, it contains links to: finding the right school, preparing for college, career development, community service, military service and even registering with the Selective Service. Check it out!!!! When you are finished with this web site you must close out and go back to the Counselor’s Corner Home Page.

Student Financial Assistance www.ed.gov/studentaid
This web site contains pages about finding out about financial aid, applying for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and paying back your student loans, plus much more.

Financial Aid Information Page www.finaid.org
This web page contains an Estimated Family Contribution Estimator, a college cost projector, an educational Savings Plan Designer, scholarship information, and alottamuch more.

Financial Aid for Native American Students www.finaid.org/otheraid/natamind.phtml
This is a site that provides information about aid for Native American students

Financial Aid Glossary of Terms www.finaid.org/questions/glossary.phtml
On this site you can find the most commonly used terms and acronyms used when applying for financial aid.

Click on “PDF scholarships” to download an application
IF POSSIBLE YOU SHOULD TYPE ON ALL APPLICATIONS! IF YOU NEED HELP SEE VAL!

Seniors, scholarships are an important part of your college planning. This site will give you a list of scholarships, their qualifications, and their deadlines. USE THIS PAGE FIRST before filling out any scholarship. If you have questions, please ask me. Keep checking this page and the bulletin board outside the counselors office and in the library for information about available scholarships. Make a list of the scholarships that pertain to your field of study or that you are eligible for. Make sure that you fill all applications in completely and that you attach only what each application asks for. Most of the applications are fillable PDF’s but if they are not, download them, save them as PDF’s and open them in Adobe Reader DC. Be sure to read all instructions before returning completed applications. Some applications need to be submitted directly to the organization offering the scholarship and some may be turned in to the guidance office.

Winner High School would like parents and students to know that legitimate companies never guarantee scholarships and that financial aid help and information are available for free. For free financial aid help contact: Your high school counselor, or any college financial aid office. Please think seriously before spending any amount of money on financial aid help. This is money that could be used to help pay for college tuition, books, or living expenses. If you need help determining the legitimacy of a mailing you have received, contact your high school counselor.

CURRENT SCHOLARSHIPS:

Coca-Cola Scholars Program: The Coca-Cola Scholars Program scholarship is an achievement-based scholarship awarded to students in their final year of high school. Students are recognized for their capacity to lead and serve, as well as their commitment to making a significant impact on their schools and communities. With the 35th class in 2023, the Foundation has provided over 6,750 Coca-Cola Scholars with more than $81 million in educational support. 150 Coca-Cola Scholars are selected each year to receive this $20,000 scholarship. To apply, go to https://www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org/apply/ through September 30, 2025.

The Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student: The Elks National Foundation awards 500 four-year scholarships based on academics, leadership, and financial need. National awards range from $1000 per year to $12,500 per year. These scholarships are for students pursuing a four-year degree on a full-time basis. Male and female students will compete separately. Students should choose Winner Elks Lodge #2084, Winner, SD 57580 as their sponsoring lodge. Application and additional information can be found at https://www.elks.org/scholars/scholarships/MVS.cfm The application deadline is November 12, 2025.

The Elks National Foundation Legacy Award: The Elks National Foundation awards $1.4 million in college scholarships worth $4000 each to a total of 350 children and grandchildren of Elks members. These scholarships are available for college-bound high school seniors who are children or grandchildren of dues-paying Elks. Applications are evaluated based on their commitment to the core values of the ENF. Students should choose Winner Elks Lodge #2084, Winner, SD 57580 as their sponsoring lodge. Application and additional information can be found at https://www.elks.org/scholars/scholarships/Legacy.cfm. The application deadline is February 2, 2026.

SD Farmers Union Foundation: South Dakota Farmers Union annually gives recognition to young people who commit to a South Dakota college, university or technical institute, and whose parents are current members of Farmers Union. Farmers Union starts investing in youth at age 5 and that investment is never-ending as they progress through their education. We are excited for our youth as they transition into the next chapter and are thankful to continue our support for their future. Several $500 scholarships are awarded each year to deserving students. Applications can be found at www.sdfu.org. The application deadline is November 14, 2025.

SD Farmers Union Farming for the Future: The South Dakota Farmers Union Farming for the Future offers a scholarship program for college and high school seniors interested in agriculture, aiming to bridge the gap between farm and fork. Participants will develop communication skills and advocate for South Dakota agriculture by sharing personal experiences or exploring agricultural topics through social media. Over seven weeks, students will network with industry professionals and engage in weekly challenges focused on specific agricultural products or issues, earning mini scholarships and accumulating points toward larger scholarships. Applicants must apply to www.SDFU.ORG. The application deadline is October 19, 2025.

BankWest: This scholarship program is for BankWest deposit holders who are high school seniors and plan on attending some sort of post secondary high school education. Applicant must have been an account holder for at least 6 months prior to the deadline. The application is on the PDF page. The application deadline is January 30, 2026.

Rosebud Electric: Applications for the $2,500 Rosebud Electric Scholarship are available on counselor’s corner or at rosebudelectric.com. The scholarship is open to any student whose parents or guardians are members of Rosebud Electric Cooperative. Applicants must attach a transcript, a copy of ACT scores, a short essay outlining your high school activities, and a letter of recommendation by someone not associated with the school system. The deadline for returning the application is February 13^th, 2026 at the Rosebud Electric office in Gregory.

Oscar and Rose Pravecek Family: The family of Oscar and Rose Pravecek have established a fund in their honor. They enjoyed a successful lifestyle in the Winner area. This scholarship is for the benefit of deserving graduating seniors from Winner High School under the following terms and conditions. Selection of students shall be based on pursuing an Ag-related field or vocation, returning to an Ag area, or a participating 4-H member. The recipient shall attend a post-secondary institute of their choice, with either college or vocational training. The application deadline is March 30, 2026.

South Dakota Elks Career & Tech Ed: This $1500 award is given by the South Dakota Elks Association for students enrolling in a post-secondary career & technical institution by fall 2026. A 350-500 word essay about the student, their financial needs, involvement in extra-curricular and community activities, and a summary of the applicant’s intended career plans needs to be attached, and 2 letters of recommendation. The application is on the PDF page. The application deadline is November 12, 2025.

National Honor Society: This is your chance to be recognized! You must be a high school senior and an active NHS member in good standing and have an NHS student account tied to your school’s chapter. To apply, visit nationalhonorsociety.org/scholarship. The application deadline is November 24, 2025.

Agtegra Agricultural: 10 scholarships are available for the class of 2026. Applicants must be attending a 2 or 4 year institution in North or South Dakota and be pursuing an agricultural degree or career field after college graduation. The application is now open at www.agtera.com/scholarship. The application deadline is February 27, 2026.

South Dakota Engineering Society Central Chapter: These scholarships are for any student pursuing an engineering career who will be attending either South Dakota School of Mines and Technology or South Dakota State University. The application can be found on the PDF page. The application is due March 6, 2026.

Town and Country Women’s Club: One $500 scholarship will be presented to a qualifying Tripp County senior upon registration at the school of their choice. Applicant must have a 2.5 gpa or greater. The application can be found on the PDF page. The application deadline is March 23, 2026.

Cobell: $5000 scholarship for an enrolled member of federally recognized tribe who will be attending 2 or 4 year college. The application is found online. You must create an account. Application can be accessed on https://cobellscholar.org/ The application deadline is March 31, 2026.

American Indian Education Fund: This is $2000 for a student enrolled in a federally recognized tribe that is pursuing a bachelor’s or an associate’s degree. The application is online at http://nativepartnership.org/aief/. The application deadline is April 4, 2026 but bonus points for turning it in before March 1, 2026.

Catching the Dream: This scholarship is awarded for LIFE and the amount depends on need. In order to apply, you must have 1/4 degree of Indian blood and be enrolled in a federally recognized tribe. The application can be found on https://catchingthedream.org/application-forms/. The deadline is April 30, 2026.

Dakota Corps: This scholarship pays full tuition and fees for approximately 16 credit hours a semester. This scholarship was established to encourage SD high school graduates to remain in the state upon completion of their education and contribute by working in a critical need occupation. The applicant must have a gpa of 2.8 or higher, an ACT of 27, agree in writing to stay in SD for the number of years they received the scholarship plus one and be going into one of the following fields:

Teacher – K-12 (select areas)
Teacher – Secondary (select areas)
Accountant/Auditor
Engineering (select areas)
Information Technology
Registered Nurse

The application can be found at https://ourdakotadreams.com/paying-for-college/sd-scholarships/. The application deadline is December 15, 2025.

American Indian College Fund: This scholarship is for members of a federally recognized tribe or a descendent of an enrolled member, who has a gpa of at least 2.0 and will be enrolled full-time at an accrediated, nonprofit institution of higher learning. The application can be found at https://collegefund.org/students/scholarships/. The application deadline is May 31, 2026.

Missouri River Energy Services – Lineworker: Up to 7 $2000 scholarships will be awarded to students enrolling in a full-time electrical lineworker or powerline program next fall at one of the seven eligible technical colleges in the Upper Midwest (list on Val’s bulletin board). The application is online at www.mrenergy.com. The application is due March 13, 2026.

Missouri River Energy Services: Up to 5 $1000 scholarships will be awarded to students pursuing courses of study related to the electric industry: electrical technician, engineering, mathematics, science, energy management, accounting, communications, economics and more! To be eligible, the graduating senior must live in a home powered by an MRES member utility and enroll full-time in an accrediated 2 or 4 year college, university or technical school. To apply, visit www.mrenergy.com. The application deadline is March 13, 2026.

The following scholarships will be offered through the SD Community Foundation website. To access any/all of them, students will need to create an account on www.sdcommunityfoundation.org/scholarships and then click on “BEGIN YOUR APPLICATION HERE”. Deadline for all of them is March 25, 2026.

Harold and Grace Neyens Family Scholarship – 2 – $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to a Tripp County High School graduate planning to attend any school of higher education (to include industrial, technical, and four-year accredited universities in or out of state). Applicant should be respectful, of good character, strong in citizenship and community activities, participated in extracurricular activities, and have obtained suitable academic achievement. Application must include a copy of official high school transcript including ACT and resume.

Charles Hellman Memorial for Future Educators: This scholarship is in honor of the teachers who strongly influenced the life of Charles Hellmann and will be used to support future educators in South Dakota. A $1000 scholarship will be presented to any qualifying WHS student who is in the top half of their graduating class and is interested in becoming an educator in any area. Applications must include a copy of the official high school transcript and resume. The application deadline is March 25, 2026.

Harold E. Smith: A $1000 scholarship will be awarded to a Winner High School senior planning to obtain a degree from any SD institution of higher learning. Preference will be given to, but restricted to, a student showing a strong aptitude for English, drama, and/or oral interpretation. Applicant must have obtained suitable academic achievement. The application deadline is March 25, 2026.

Ray Neyens Sr. and Grace Neyens: A $1000 scholarship will be awarded to a Winner High School senior planning to obtain a degree from any SD institution of higher learning. The applicant should be respectful, of good character, strong in community activities and citizenship, and must have maintained good academic standing and earned at least a 2.5 GPA. A resume and transcript must accompany completed applications. The application deadline is March 25, 2026.

Gordon K. Horgen Memorial Science: This scholarship is meant to honor the legacy of scientific education brought to the students of WHS by Gordon Horgen during his 41-year career as an educator and mentor in the various sciences. Gordon taught at WHS from 1961-2002. He was an outstanding chemistry and physics teacher and was easily recognized wearing his trademark white lab coat. Mr. Horgen was also the first computer teacher at WHS. In 1971, Gordon was named the SD Outstanding Young Educator and in 1987 he was presented the Outstanding Physical Science Teacher Award by the SD Academy of Science. A $1000 scholarship will be awarded to a qualifying WHS student who plans to attend a school of higher education and will be pursuing a college degree in a scientific or mathematical field including anyone planning to become a science or math teacher. The scholarship will be paid to the registrar of the college or university at the beginning of the second semester of education. An official copy of the high school transcript, resume, and 1 letter of recommendation from a teacher to the counselor’s office. The application deadline is March 25, 2026.

Don and Fern Jorgensen: A $750 scholarship will be awarded to a qualifying WHS senior, who plans to attend an SD institution of higher learning, and has a cumulative GPA of 2.5. An official copy of the high school transcript, resume, and ACT score must be included with the application. The application deadline is March 25, 2026.

James & Lawrence Neyens: 2 – $1000 scholarships will be awarded to 2 Tripp County high school graduates planning on attending ANY school of higher learning. Applicants should be respectful, of good character, strong in citizenship and community activities, participate in extracurricular activities, and maintain suitable academic achievement. A resume and ACT score must accompany the application. The application deadline is March 25, 2026.

Antes Family: A $500 scholarship will be presented to a qualifying WHS senior who plans to pursue a career in agriculture. The applicant must plan to attend an SD institution of higher learning and have a minimum GPA of 3.0. The application deadline is March 25, 2026.

Winner Rotary Club & George and Jack Bailey Family: Two $500 scholarships will be presented to qualifying WHS seniors. Selection is based on academics, extracurricular involvement, and financial need. Complete application with a copy of your resume and official transcript needs to be returned to be considered. The application deadline is March 25, 2026.

Tripp County Water User District – Lawrence Wagner: Successful applicant will receive a $1000 scholarship. The scholarship will be awarded during the student’s first year of college, during the second semester. Applicant must be a child of a member of the Tripp County Water User District. The applicant must attend an SD post-secondary educational facility and have a grade point average of 2.8 or higher. A typed 250-500 word essay on what rural water has done for you or your community must be attached to the completed application. The application must be mailed or dropped off at TCWUD. The application deadline is March 25, 2026.

Tripp County Water User District – Martin & Mary Jorgensen: Successful applicant will receive a $1000 scholarship. The scholarship will be awarded during the student’s first year of college, during the second semester. Applicant must be a child of a member of the Tripp County Water User District. The applicant must attend an SD post-secondary educational facility and have a grade point average of 2.8 or higher. A typed 250-500 word essay on what rural water has done for you or your community must be attached to the completed application. The application must be mailed or dropped off at TCWUD. The application deadline is March 25, 2026.

Mary Still Memorial: Still will be a stranger to most of the students who are awarded this scholarship. Perhaps this short description will help you know and appreciate her. For almost 30 years, Mary had a beauty salon in the basement of her home on Main Street. At the age of 85, she was still doing hair at the Winner Regional Long Term Care Center. School and education were important to her. She liked to see people succeed in their education. For many years, she was the only member of the class of 1930 that attended roll call. This scholarship is a gift from her. In July 2017, Mary died at the age of 106. She outlived all her siblings, their spouses, and her friends whose hair she had done. This gift will not only help the recipients further their education but will leave a legacy of what hard work and commitment can accomplish. A minimum of $1000 scholarship(s) will be awarded to a WHS student who plans to attend post-secondary education in any field of their choice. The application deadline is April 1, 2025.

Benson Family Memorial: This scholarship is offered by Robert and Judy Benson to a graduating senior from WHS. Both Bob and Judy have been lifelong residents of Tripp County and are graduates of WHS. Applicant must have a 4.0 non-weighted GPA, including a personal resume, and transcript. The application deadline is March 25, 2026.

Dr. Tony and Kay Berg: This permanent endowment to provide a $1000 scholarship will be awarded to a Winner High School student or an employee of Winner Regional Healthcare seeking a career or to advance their career in healthcare. The application will be assessed by need, grades, and involvement, or can be given to someone already in the medical field who is trying to advance their degree. The application deadline is March 25, 2026.

WH Sturges: This is 2 – $850 scholarships for a student going into any field of medicine. Applicants for this scholarship must be a senior or an alumnus of Winner School District and be planning to go into a health-related field of study. Applicant must attend an SD Institute of Higher Education including a technical school. The applications are available by clicking on the PDF link at the top of the page. The application deadline is March 25, 2026.

DO NOT START FILLING OUT APPLICATIONS UNTIL YOU HAVE SEEN THE SCHOLARSHIP PAGE TO SEE IF THEY HAVE BEEN OFFERED!

“A dream is a path to the future, A quiet belief in the heart, A small secret wish nurtured deep in a spirit…Where all great accomplishments start, A dream is an endless horizon that only a dreamer can see, A dream is a challenge…A promise of all you can be.” ~Anonymous~

SCHOLARSHIP SCAMS

A Scammer:

States you’ve won an award for which you didn’t apply.
Does not supply valid contact information.
Guarantees you will win an award.
Requires personal financial information (such as credit card numbers or checking account numbers) to “verify” or “hold” a scholarship.
A sponsor may use words like “national,” “education” or “federal” or have an official-looking seal, but might still be a scammer. Also, the federal government and the U.S. Dept. of Education do not endorse private businesses.

A legitimate scholarship service:

Sends information about awards when you request it.
Makes contact information available upon request.
Does not guarantee you will win an award.
Should not direct you to a fee-based provider because they know that financial aid information is readily available for free.

FINANCIAL AID SHOULDN’T COST YOU, ESPECIALLY WHEN FREE RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE.

TOP 10 ADMISSIONS TIPS

Take a rigorous academic course load.
Research financial aid options.
Prepare for the SAT or ACT exams.
Develop your ideal college profile.
Review application essay questions.
Do Community service and volunteer work.
Attend college fairs.
Keep your grades strong.
Maintain relationships with teachers who can write your letters of recommendation.
Explore your interests through your classes.

10 COLLEGE ESSAY TIPS

Don’t recycle essays.
Captivate your audience
Be yourself.
Accentuate the positive.
Write in the active voice.
Don’t overextend.
Ask people for input.
Leave time for rewriting.
Revise, reword.
Pursue perfection.