The Robert C. Byrd Scholarship application is now available online. The Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program is a federally-supported program that recognizes exceptional high school seniors who show promise of continued excellence in postsecondary education.

An applicant must be a South Dakota resident and a senior at an accredited public or private secondary school, must be qualified to graduate or receive a GED certificate, and must have applied or been accepted for enrollment as a full-time student at an eligible in-state or out-of-state institution of higher education.

Applicants must have a grade point average of at least 3.5 on an unweighted 4.0 scale through the end of the term most recently completed and must also have an ACT score of 30 or above.

Scholarships are awarded to approximately 17 eligible applicants with the highest ACT score and grade point average. Scholars will be selected from the four divisions of the South Dakota federal district court: western, northern, central and southern. Scholars must attend an eligible institution of higher education on a full-time basis in the academic year following high school graduation, or they may postpone their education up to one year if approved by the South Dakota Department of Education.

Scholarships are awarded in the amount of up to $1,500 per year. If funds are available, scholarships are renewable for the first four years of study at any institution eligible to participate in this program if the recipient continues to meet the eligibility criteria and maintains satisfactory progress, as determined by the institution of higher education.

Click here for a complete list of scholarship requirements, including an online application.

Applications are due March 18.