Build Dakota Scholarship

Attention Nursing Applicants

We receive a number of questions each year regarding the Build Dakota Scholarship and Stretch-the-Million (STM) Industry Partnership program for the Practical Nursing (LPN) and Registered Nursing (RN) programs at Lake Area Technical College (LATC).

General Studies & Transition to LPN

Students enrolled in Human Services Academics (HSA) are not currently eligible to receive Build Dakota funds; however, Build Dakota will cover required general courses when the student is enrolled in the LPN program. It is up to the student on how much of a credit load they wish to take at a time. Visit with LATC Admissions about the right path for you.

Students accepted into the Fall 2027 or January 2028 LPN program will need to complete the Foundation Scholarship application and Build Dakota questions via AwardSpring between January 1 – March 31, 2027.

Transition to RN

Some Build Dakota scholars express interest in continuing into the RN program.

For students currently enrolled in LPN through a Build Dakota/STM partnership, moving into the RN program requires coordination with their existing partner. Students are encouraged to communicate with their Build Dakota partner early to determine if continued partnership support is possible.

In most cases, students must remain with the same partner as they transition into the RN program, unless their three-year employment commitment with their LPN partner has already been fulfilled.

To help guide this process, the Lake Area Technical College Foundation will meet with interested LPN BDS scholars to explain what continuing into RN entails and to assist them in completing the LPN to RN Build Dakota Interest Form.

Attention Dental Applicants

We receive a number of questions regarding the Build Dakota Scholarship and Stretch-the-Million (STM) Industry Partnership program for the Dental Assisting (DA) and Dental Hygiene (DH) programs at Lake Area Technical College (LATC).

Dental Assisting

The Dental Assisting Build Dakota Scholarship (BDS) structure looks a little different than other Build Dakota programs, as students can earn it through several program pathways.

Eligible options include:

1. Dental Assisting Diploma
2. Dental Assisting AAS
3. Dental Assisting-P
4. Second-Year DAP Students – Eligible for one year of Build Dakota funding

Transition to Dental Hygiene

Some Dental Assisting Build Dakota scholars express interest in continuing into the Dental Hygiene (DH) program.

For students currently enrolled in Dental Assisting through a Build Dakota/STM partnership, moving into the DH program requires coordination with their existing partner. Students are encouraged to communicate with their Build Dakota partner early to determine if continued partnership support is possible.

In most cases, students must remain with the same partner as they transition into the DH program, unless their three-year employment commitment with their Dental Assisting partner has already been fulfilled.

To help guide this process, the Lake Area Technical College Foundation will meet with interested Dental Assisting BDS students to explain what continuing into Dental Hygiene entails and to assist them in completing the Dental Assisting to Dental Hygiene Build Dakota Interest Form.