LATC 60th Anniversary Tailgate Tour Stops in Madison, Awards Scholarship

Steve Jurrens
Sep 30
2 min read

Two images: Left, a student holding a scholarship check on a football field. Right, two people on a field, one in uniform. Stadium in the background. — Scott Carbonneau, Dean of Student Services at LATC (left) & Jackson Thames, a senior at Madison High School, and Spencer Waege, an LATC Agriculture Instructor and former NFL player, presented Tate Connell, a senior running back from Sioux Falls. (on right)

Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - Lake Area Technical College (LATC) recently hosted the sixth event on its year-long 60th Anniversary Tailgate Tour, celebrating the Madison versus Sioux Falls Christian high school football game. The event included a scholarship presentation, community engagement activities, and recognition for a student-athlete.

Two people on a football field holding a large scholarship check for $1,000 from Lake Area Technical College. Stadium seating in the background. — Scott Carbonneau, Dean of Student Services at LATC (left) & Jackson Thames, a senior at Madison High School

Jackson Thames, a senior at Madison High School, was presented with a $1,000 scholarship to attend Lake Area Technical College in Watertown. The scholarship was presented by Scott Carbonneau, Dean of Student Services at LATC.

During the game, Tate Connell, a senior running back from Sioux Falls, was named the game's Most Valuable Player (MVP). Spencer Waege, an LATC Agriculture Instructor and former NFL player, awarded Connell a commemorative football.

Two men stand on a football field. One holds a ball, wearing a "lake area tech" hoodie, the other in a uniform. Stadium reads "BRIAN KERN FAMILY STADIUM." — Spencer Waege, an LATC Agriculture Instructor and former NFL player, presented Tate Connell, a senior running back from Sioux Falls.

Lake Area Technical College President Tiffany Sanderson stated that the tour is designed to celebrate the school's six decades of success in preparing students for technical professions that are currently in high demand.

“At Lake Area Tech, we believe education extends beyond the classroom,” Sanderson said. “This tour is a fun way to connect with communities in our area, support student-athletes, and showcase the fast and focused education available to students interested in jumpstarting their careers.”

The 60th Anniversary Tailgate Tour will continue throughout the region at high school football games through October. Each event features scholarship awards, an MVP recognition, and interactive activities for attendees. The next scheduled stop for the tour is at Hamlin High School, where the Chargers will host the DeSmet Bulldogs.

Lake Area Technical College was established in Watertown in 1965 as South Dakota's first technical college. It now offers more than 30 programs to nearly 2,700 students. For additional details on the Tailgate Tour or the college, the public can visit its social media pages or its website at www.lakeareatech.edu.