Red Cloud Indian School offers scholarships to students in grades 5-7 for summer programs at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

posted on May 18, 2011

Red Cloud Indian School is now offering scholarships to any 5th through 7th grade students, interested in attending the summer youth programs offered At South Dakota School of Mines & Technology (SDSM&T) Youth Programs with funding from their 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant (21stCCLC).

In recent summers, South Dakota School of Mines & Technology Youth Programs has offered summer programs for students in grades 5th through 12th grade who are interested in the sciences, computer technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) programs offered there. Students from Red Cloud and Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary Schools are invited to attend each year. Although a fee is usually required for the week-long and six week programs, students from Red Cloud Indian School usually attend with the help of a scholarship through SDSM&T’s Youth Programs, and primarily through the schools’ 21st CCLC summer program.

“In partnership with the SDSM&T Youth Programs, Red Cloud, through its 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant, makes it possible to send up to 40 middle school students each summer,” says TJ Lynch, director of the 21st Century program at Red Cloud Indian School. “The goal is to expose students to STEM programming as well as give them the experience of staying on a college campus for a week with students from all over the United States.”

In previous summers, Red Cloud students have opted to attend such summer programs at SDSM&T as, the Socket to Me computer camp, STEPS engineering camp, the Space Adventures Camp and the Super Science camp.

According to Nancy Anderson-Smith, the Director of Youth Programs and Continuing Education at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, of the students who attend the programs: 95% go on to college, 87% of which end up picking a STEM major, and 54% are currently attending SDSM&T.

“These programs help prepare our students for college through the classes that are offered while also giving some the chance to experience life off the reservation while experiencing the college dorm life,” says Lynch.

The deadline to sign up for a scholarship through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant at Red Cloud Indian School for the SDSM&T summer youth programs is May 20, 2011. You may contact TJ Lynch, director of the 21st Century Program, at 605/867-2801.