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South Dakota Retailers Association Awards Record $18,500 in Scholarships to Four Students, Including Colter Hanson of Sisseton

Collage of four smiling teens: a girl in a lab coat, a boy in a wood shed, a boy by a fence, and a girl in sunflowers with NORTHEAST RADIO SD

Northeast Radio SD News – South Dakota - Four South Dakota students pursuing careers in retail, business, and trades are getting a financial boost thanks to the South Dakota Retailers Association, which has awarded a record $18,500 in scholarships for 2026.


The recipients and their awards are:

·         Rebecca Dorn, Dell Rapids — $6,000 scholarship to attend veterinary school. Dorn plans to join her family veterinary clinic in Dell Rapids upon graduation.

·         Colter Hanson, Sisseton — $5,000 scholarship to complete his education at South Dakota State University. Hanson intends to return to Sisseton to take over his family business.

·         Tucker Hardy, Langford — $4,000 scholarship to finish his studies at Lake Area Tech. Hardy plans to take over the family business in Langford.

·         Jayla Murphy, Sioux Falls — $3,500 scholarship to attend SDSU. Murphy hopes to open a boutique in the Black Hills area after graduation.


Scholarship Committee Chair Sarah Hustead, who grew up in a family business herself, highlighted the significance of this year’s class.

“This year, we’re awarding a record $18,500 in scholarships, and three of our four recipients are already on the path to taking over their own family businesses,” Hustead said. “That’s exactly the kind of momentum and forward thinking we want to encourage across South Dakota.”

SDRA Executive Director Nathan Sanderson echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the association’s broader mission.

“We are committed to helping businesses, small and large, remain sustainable, influential, and profitable,” Sanderson said. “Scholarships are just one way we help perpetuate businesses in South Dakota and help prepare young people for success in the industry.”

The SDRA scholarship program, which has been running since 1992, supports students studying for careers in hospitality, business, and trades. This year’s awards bring the program’s all-time total to 289 scholarships and more than $288,575 awarded.


The South Dakota Retailers Association is one of the nation’s oldest and largest state trade organizations, representing approximately 4,000 businesses. More information is available at sdra.org.


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