The South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship, which faced a possible $2 million cut, survived the 2010 legislative session in Pierre after and will continue to be offered to state students.
State Sen. Dan Ahlers, District 25, said the amendment to cut state support was tabled Tuesday afternoon by the Joint Appropriations Committee.
But the scholarship did see its eligibility requirements loosened during the session.
SB 145, which was signed by the governor March 11, allows students to take less than 15 credit hours per semester as long as they complete a total of 30 credit hours in one academic year.
An amendment to HB 1224 would have changed the disbursement schedule for recipients of the scholarship. However, that proposed change was defeated in committee.
Carr said students deserve credit for helping to save the scholarship.
“Legislators heard them loud and clear,” he said.
Junior Frank DePaula, who recieves the scholarship, said he was pleased his legislators chose to keep the scholarship intact.
A total of 6,144 South Dakota high school graduates have established initial eligibility in the scholarship since the program started in 2004 after a trust fund was set up through the sale of a cement plant in Rapid City.
The program was the first of its kind to give students a scholarship incentive to stay in the state after high school.
Students who qualify for the scholarship and attend one of 10 in-state institutions, including USD, receive $1,000 their first three years and $2,000 their senior year.
To be eligible, students are required to obtain an ACT score of 24 or higher and meet specific high school requirements.
Student Government Association president Tim Carr said the death of the amendment is a positive for the university.
“The Opportunity Scholarship is essential; it keeps students in South Dakota,” Carr said. “Education needs to be a priority whether times are tough or not.”
Reach reporter Joe Sneve at Joe.Sneve@usd.edu.
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