§ SD

Research programs in South Dakota.

40 local programs run in South Dakota, 28 of them free or paid. Plus 210 nationwide programs open to anyone in the US.

Filter the Finder by SD →Suggest a South Dakota program →

Local to South Dakota

Crazy Horse Memorial University / Black Hills State University
7th Gen. Summer Program
An 8-week summer semester where high school seniors earn 12 tuition-free, transferable college credits through a partnership with Black Hills State University while gaining paid work experience through an internship at Crazy Horse Memorial. Preference is given to enrolled members of federally recognized tribes, though the university is open to all qualified students.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
South Dakota Space Grant Consortium
Aerospace Career Education (ACE) Camp
A high-school-aged camp run by the South Dakota Space Grant Consortium giving students an early, first-hand look at aerospace, aviation, and related careers, part of the Consortium's broader slate of K-12 educational outreach based at South Dakota State University.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
American Legion, Department of South Dakota
American Legion South Dakota High School Oratorical Contest
A scholarship speech competition on the U.S. Constitution for South Dakota high school (or junior high) students under 20, requiring an 8-10 minute prepared oration plus a 3-5 minute speech on an assigned topic delivered without notes; district and department winners advance toward the national contest and its scholarships.
📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
South Dakota Board of Regents
Ardell Bjugstad Scholarship
A scholarship for Native American high school seniors who are enrolled members of a federally recognized tribe with a reservation in South Dakota or North Dakota, intended for students pursuing agribusiness, agricultural production, agricultural sciences, or natural resources degrees at an eligible postsecondary institution.
📅 Varies🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Build Dakota Scholarship Fund
Build Dakota Scholarship
A full-ride scholarship covering tuition, fees, books, and other required expenses for students entering high-need workforce programs at South Dakota's technical colleges, in exchange for a commitment to work in South Dakota after graduation.
📅 March🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Black Hills State University
Campus and Career Discovery Camp
A four-day, three-night residential camp for incoming 9th-11th graders from West River South Dakota school districts to explore college life, academic programs, and career paths, including a field trip to the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in Lead.
📅 May🎓 Grades 9–11
Moderate
Calista Education and Culture, Inc.
Ciutmuarluni
A youth leadership and postsecondary-readiness program for 11th and 12th graders in the Calista Region, combining Elder-led cultural immersion with college campus visits, financial-aid guidance, and career exploration.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Dakota State University
Cyber Camp for High Schoolers
A week-long residential cybersecurity camp for students entering grades 10-12, covering digital forensics, cryptography, programming in C and Python, privacy, and cyber awareness, taught by DSU faculty, alumni, students, and industry professionals with no prior experience required.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
State of South Dakota
Dakota Corps Scholarship
A full-tuition scholarship for South Dakota high school graduates who commit to working in a critical-need occupation in South Dakota after completing an undergraduate program at a participating in-state college.
📅 February🎓 Grade 12
Selective
South Dakota Department of Education
Hagen-Harvey Scholarship
A scholarship for enrolled members of American Indian tribes who plan to attend a South Dakota postsecondary institution.
📅 Varies🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Sanford Research / Sanford Health
High School Research Scholars Program (PROMISE Scholars)
A 10-week, total-immersion summer research internship in which students entering their senior year work alongside Sanford Research scientists in biomedical labs, join journal clubs and career-coaching seminars, and present their findings as a poster at the Sanford Research Symposium.
📅 January🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks
Junior Naturalist Program
A self-paced, tiered outdoor-education and volunteer program at South Dakota's state parks and recreation areas for youth ages 7-18, combining naturalist-led programs, recreational activities, and conservation volunteer work.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum of Natural History
Junior Zookeeper Program
A summer volunteer program for teens ages 13-18 giving hands-on career experience in zoology, including working directly with animals and zoo visitors under staff supervision.
📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
South Dakota State University, SD Agricultural Heritage Museum
National History Day in South Dakota
A yearlong research and creative-project competition for students in grades 6-12 who create a documentary, exhibit, paper, performance, or website on an annual history theme, competing first at one of four regional contests, then at the state contest hosted at SDSU.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
South Dakota State University, Department of Natural Resource Management
Natural Resources High School Camp
A hands-on residential camp at SDSU's Oak Lake Field Station near Astoria, SD, for students entering grades 9-12 who want to explore natural resource ecology, wildlife, and land management with SDSU faculty and graduate students.
📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of South Dakota, College of Fine Arts
Oscar Howe Summer Art Institute
A free, two-week residential arts institute at USD for high school students in grades 10-12 who show talent in the visual arts and a strong interest in American Indian culture, with special attention given to Native American applicants. Students take drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, and cultural studies classes from Northern Plains artists.
📅 April🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
South Dakota Arts Council / South Dakota Public Broadcasting
Poetry Out Loud - South Dakota
A free statewide poetry recitation and memorization competition for South Dakota students in grades 9-12 (public, private, or home school), building public-speaking skill and confidence; the state champion represents South Dakota at the national Poetry Out Loud finals in Washington, D.C.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Sanford Health
Sanford Aspire Student Programs (MedX & EMT Certification)
Sanford Health's K-12 Aspire initiative gives high schoolers a behind-the-scenes look at health care careers through Sanford MedX career-exploration days with facility tours and hands-on activities, plus a hybrid online/live EMT certification course for seniors that leads to the National Registry EMT exam and college credit.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Sanford Health
Sanford Health Student Volunteer Program
A semester-long hospital volunteer program open to students age 16 and up who commit to a weekly shift in a health care setting, gaining direct patient-facing experience for those considering a medical career.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
South Dakota Mines
SD Mines Summer Tech Academy
STEM camps at SD Mines. In-state aid.
⏱ 1 week (summer)📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
SDSU Extension 4-H
SkillsX by 4-H (Teen Leadership Conference)
An on-campus leadership conference for South Dakota youth ages 13-18, featuring workshops, campus tours, community service projects, and keynote speakers, planned each year by the State 4-H Ambassadors.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
SDSU Extension 4-H Youth Development
South Dakota 4-H Legislature Program
A civic-education program for senior 4-H members (ages 14-18) to run campaigns, serve as elected 4-H Legislators, draft bills, and debate them during a mock legislative session at the South Dakota State Capitol, mirroring committee meetings, caucuses, public testimony, and floor debate.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Legion, Department of South Dakota
South Dakota Boys State
A week-long summer citizenship and government-leadership program for male high school juniors, held on the Northern State University campus, where delegates run for office, write legislation, and operate a mock state government.
📅 Varies🎓 Grade 11
Highly Selective
University of South Dakota
South Dakota Business Student Summer Leadership Academy
A rigorous residential program for high school students in South Dakota to explore the business world and entrepreneurship.
⏱ 1 week📅 March 1🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
DECA Inc. - South Dakota Chartered Association
South Dakota DECA
South Dakota's chapter of DECA, which prepares emerging leaders in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management through classroom instruction and a competitive State Career Development Conference (SCDC).
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
South Dakota Envirothon
South Dakota Envirothon
A natural-resources competition for teams of 5-6 high school students testing knowledge of soil, water, forestry, and wildlife plus a presentation on an annually-selected current environmental issue; the state champion advances to the North American Envirothon competition each summer.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Future Business Leaders of America - South Dakota
South Dakota FBLA
South Dakota's chapter of Future Business Leaders of America, preparing high school students for business careers through competitive events, public speaking, and leadership training culminating in a State Leadership Conference.
📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
South Dakota FCCLA
South Dakota FCCLA State Leadership Conference
The official statewide gathering for South Dakota FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) members, featuring STAR Events competitions, leadership development, and networking, with top competitors advancing to the National Leadership Conference.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
South Dakota FFA Association
South Dakota FFA Association
The statewide agricultural education and leadership organization for the state's 112 FFA chapters, offering Career Development Events, Leadership Development Events, an Agriscience Fair, leadership retreats, and the State FFA Convention for students in agricultural education classes.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Legion Auxiliary, Department of South Dakota
South Dakota Girls State
A week-long summer citizenship and government-leadership program for female high school juniors hosted at the University of South Dakota, mirroring Boys State with mock elections, legislation, and hands-on civics education.
📅 Varies🎓 Grade 11
Highly Selective
HOSA-Future Health Professionals (South Dakota)
South Dakota HOSA State Leadership Conference
South Dakota's chapter of HOSA-Future Health Professionals hosts an annual State Leadership Conference drawing 800+ high school students for competitive health-science events, breakout sessions, a college/career fair, and hands-on activities like suturing practice and a mobile simulated patient unit.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Arts South Dakota / U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
South Dakota Junior Duck Stamp Contest
A free art and conservation-science contest open to students in kindergarten through high school, who research waterfowl and wetlands conservation and submit an original drawing or painting of a duck, goose, or swan; entries are postmarked by March 15, and the state Best of Show winner advances to the national Junior Duck Stamp contest.
📅 March 15🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
South Dakota State Legislature
South Dakota Legislative Page Program
A year-long fellowship for South Dakota high school students to engage in state policy-making and legislative observation.
⏱ 1 year📅 April 1🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
South Dakota Department of Education / SD Board of Regents
South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship
A merit scholarship rewarding South Dakota residents who complete a rigorous high school curriculum and enroll at an eligible South Dakota college, university, or technical college.
📅 Varies🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
South Dakota Science Olympiad (hosted by University of South Dakota)
South Dakota Science Olympiad State Tournament
A one-day state tournament in which Division C high school teams compete in up to 23 STEM events spanning earth science, physics, biology, and engineering design, held at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
SkillsUSA South Dakota
South Dakota SkillsUSA State Conference
SkillsUSA South Dakota's annual State Conference brings together high school and post-secondary students from 20+ active chapters for 100+ skilled-trades, technology, and service-career competitions, leadership training, and direct connections to South Dakota employers.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) with regional ESD art shows
Superintendent's High School Art Show
Annual statewide student art competition: high school students enter a regional Educational Service District show, and selected pieces advance to the statewide Superintendent's show, where award recipients receive a $200 cash award and trophy.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Northern State University
Tech and Innovation Camp
A free residential summer camp for students entering grades 9-12 focused on hands-on learning in technology, coding, entrepreneurship, and digital content creation, with on-campus meals and lodging included.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
U.S. Geological Survey, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center
USGS EROS Center Pathways Student Internship
A paid federal internship program that places current high school, college, and career/technical education students into hands-on work aligned with their academic or career goals, including opportunities at the EROS satellite-imagery and remote-sensing facility near Sioux Falls.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of South Dakota
VFW Voice of Democracy - South Dakota
An audio-essay scholarship competition for grades 9-12 on a patriotic/democratic theme, run nationally by the VFW since 1947 with nearly 40,000 student participants a year; South Dakota's Department first-place winner receives at least $1,000 and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. for national judging.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective

Nationwide programs open to South Dakota students

University of Pennsylvania
Academic English & University Readiness Academy
Two-week residential academy at Penn for non-native English speakers. Students do university-style work: reading, lectures, discussions, research and group projects, ending in a final presentation. Current 9th-11th graders; non-credit.
⏱ 2 weeks (July 26 - August 8, 2026)🎓 Grades 9–11
Highly Selective
Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP)
AEOP High School Apprenticeship Program
Students work alongside Army scientists and engineers on cutting-edge research projects in world-class laboratories.
⏱ 8 weeks📅 Early March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Foreign Service Association (AFSA)
AFSA National High School Essay Contest
An essay contest designed to engage students in thinking about peace and conflict resolution.
📅 February 15🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Carnegie Mellon University
AI Scholars at CMU
Free AI-focused summer program for rising seniors underrepresented in computing.
⏱ 4 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grade 11
Selective
AI4ALL
AI4ALL Open Learning
Girls in grades 6-12 learn AI and Python through interactive virtual classes.
⏱ 2 weeks📅 March 1🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mathematical Association of America
AIME
Invitational round for top AMC scorers. 15-question, 3-hour exam that gates the USAMO. No fee for invited students.
⏱ 3 hours📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Freedom Forum
Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference
An all-expenses-paid journalism conference for one student from every US state and DC.
⏱ 1 week📅 February 15🎓 Grade 11
Selective
Amazon
Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship
Scholarship for high school seniors planning to study computer science in college.
⏱ 4 years scholarship📅 December 1🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Mathematical Association of America
AMC 10/12
The entry-level American Mathematics Competition. Top scorers qualify for AIME and the path to the USAMO. Open to all US high schoolers; school registration required.
⏱ 75 minutes📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
ACSL
American Computer Science League (ACSL)
A multi-division computer science competition covering both theory and programming.
⏱ School year📅 November 30🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Pennsylvania
American Sign Language and Deaf Culture Online Seminar
Two-week online seminar (daily Zoom sessions) teaching basic ASL conversation and narrative skills in an immersion setting, plus Deaf community perspectives through vlogs, lectures and a panel of Deaf professionals. Current 9th-11th graders; non-credit.
⏱ 2 weeks (July 13 - 24, 2026)🎓 Grades 9–11
Highly Selective
Amgen Foundation
Amgen Scholars Future Track
Free online biotech simulations and pipeline programs preparing high schoolers for biomedical research.
⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Apple Inc.
Apple Swift Student Challenge
Swift coding competition hosted by Apple to showcase creativity and app development skills.
⏱ 1 month📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Berklee College of Music
Aspire: Five-Week Music Performance Intensive
The world's premier summer performance program for contemporary music, including jazz, rock, and pop.
⏱ 5 weeks📅 March 1🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
University of Pennsylvania
Astronomical Techniques Research Academy
Two-week residential academy at Penn. Students learn observational astronomy and data analysis, build simple cameras and spectrometers, observe the Sun and stars, and analyze data with Python. Current 9th-11th graders; non-credit.
⏱ 2 weeks (July 11 - 25, 2026)🎓 Grades 9–11
Moderate
NCWIT
Award for Aspirations in Computing (AiC)
Award for girls and non-binary students in computing, providing recognition and a cash prize.
⏱ One-time📅 April 15🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Bard College at Simon's Rock
Bard College at Simon's Rock Young Writers Workshop
A 3-week residential program where students engage in creative and analytical thinking through literature and history.
⏱ 3 weeks📅 April 1🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
MIT Lincoln Lab
Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI)
Free MIT-led project-based courses in AI, robotics, cybersecurity.
⏱ 4 weeks (summer)📅 Early February🎓 Grade 11
Selective
ELASH / Bebras US
Bebras Computing Challenge (US)
An international computational thinking and informatics competition. Students can take the test remotely or through a local school coordinator.
⏱ 45 minutes📅 Early February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Bennington College
Bennington Young Writers Awards
A prestigious creative writing competition for students to win cash prizes and publication.
📅 January 12🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective

Showing 20 of 210. See all in the Finder →

Browse other states

AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE DC FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY INTL