Lakota Funds Scholarship - Good Jobs Challenge

A Scholarship for Young Native Civil Engineers Brings New Energy to the Work of Increasing Native Homeownership

Across South Dakota, tribal nations and communities face an urgent need for safe, affordable housing and sustainable infrastructure. Meeting that need requires more than just materials—it demands a new generation of Native engineers equipped to lead transformative change. This summer, thanks to a high-impact scholarship program, two young Native women–Ava and Madison–graduated with degrees in civil engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines. With their sights set on building stronger, healthier tribal communities, they represent a powerful step toward a more resilient future.

“Our communities hold such extraordinary talent and innovation, especially in our young people. But Native students–and especially Native women–are still vastly underrepresented in the STEM fields, and in engineering and construction in particular. This scholarship was created specifically to address that gap and provide an opportunity for Native students seeking to pursue degrees in civil engineering to help meet the infrastructure and housing needs of our communities,” said Ellen White Thunder, Deputy Director at Lakota Funds. 

“Funding can make or break a student’s success in college, and I’m thrilled that this scholarship played a part in Ava and Madison being able to meet their goals and earn their degrees. We couldn’t be prouder of their success!”

According to Ellen, the scholarship was part of a broader effort to increase Native homeownership facilitated by both Lakota Funds and the South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition. In 2022, the organizations collaborated to launch the Building Jobs, Building Homes project–a statewide sectoral partnership to create jobs and strengthen the residential construction industry serving Native communities in South Dakota. Supported by the Economic Development Administration’s Good Jobs Challenge, the project leverages a $5 million grant focused on making unprecedented federal investments in equity-centered, locally-led workforce systems.

Creating opportunities for young, emerging Native engineers is a crucial workforce and economic development strategy–because it ensures long-term economic security for workers and their families while fueling community-led housing and infrastructure development. 

Madison, who brought her passion for the environment to her studies in civil engineering, said the scholarship was “a blessing” in helping her take her first steps toward a career in sustainable infrastructure development. 

“This scholarship greatly contributed to my completing my degree–it took a huge weight off my shoulders and provided me with a sense of security while I was focusing on my courses,” shared Madison. 

With her degree in hand, Madison is now looking to the future; she’s already been accepted into a graduate program at the School of Mines, and plans to work alongside a local engineer to earn her professional certificate. She is seriously considering launching her own construction company with a focus on building sustainable homes and infrastructure, in alignment with Indigenous culture and community needs. 

“I hope to be a part of building on the reservation, using innovative, sustainable approaches that give structures more longevity and actually make sense for our style of community,” she said. “We struggle with being disconnected from our culture, because it’s not ingrained in our daily lives. And I think we can draw on cultural perspectives and cultural knowledge to inform the way we design and to increase sustainability. I want to bring those ideas into my work.”

Ava, who brings a specific interest in improving community water systems, agrees that the scholarship played a powerful role in her ability to complete her studies. 

“It was really helpful, because I didn’t have to worry about taking out another student loan, or trying to work while going to school,” she shared. 

Already at work with an engineering firm based in Rapid City, Ava is gaining the professional knowledge she needs to support community development at home on the Pine Ridge Reservation.

“I’m really interested in the housing issue, because I grew up seeing firsthand how our community members have a difficult time finding any housing. And I’m really lucky because now, at my job, I get to support projects on Pine Ridge and on other organizations that are helping build up better homes and roads,” she said. 

Asked how she might encourage other young Native students to explore career opportunities in engineering, Ava shared what still inspires her to pursue work in civil engineering: the chance to make a difference in her community members’ lives. 

“Doing the work of developing housing and infrastructure is a good way to make a very direct change in your community. When you have the security of safe roads and safe homes, it takes a weight off your mind–and that will allow our community to focus on other issues, and uplift each other in the ways we need to thrive.”

“Our communities hold such extraordinary talent and innovation, especially in our young people. But Native students–and especially Native women–are still vastly underrepresented in the STEM fields, and in engineering and construction in particular. This scholarship was created specifically to address that gap and provide an opportunity for Native students seeking to pursue degrees in civil engineering to help meet the infrastructure and housing needs of our communities,” said Ellen White Thunder, Deputy Director at Lakota Funds. 

“Funding can make or break a student’s success in college, and I’m thrilled that this scholarship played a part in Ava and Madison being able to meet their goals and earn their degrees. We couldn’t be prouder of their success!”

According to Ellen, the scholarship was part of a broader effort to increase Native homeownership facilitated by both Lakota Funds and the South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition. In 2022, the organizations collaborated to launch the Building Jobs, Building Homes project–a statewide sectoral partnership to create jobs and strengthen the residential construction industry serving Native communities in South Dakota. Supported by the Economic Development Administration’s Good Jobs Challenge, the project leverages a $5 million grant focused on making unprecedented federal investments in equity-centered, locally-led workforce systems.

Creating opportunities for young, emerging Native engineers is a crucial workforce and economic development strategy–because it ensures long-term economic security for workers and their families while fueling community-led housing and infrastructure development. 

Madison, who brought her passion for the environment to her studies in civil engineering, said the scholarship was “a blessing” in helping her take her first steps toward a career in sustainable infrastructure development. 

“This scholarship greatly contributed to my completing my degree–it took a huge weight off my shoulders and provided me with a sense of security while I was focusing on my courses,” shared Madison. 

With her degree in hand, Madison is now looking to the future; she’s already been accepted into a graduate program at the School of Mines, and plans to work alongside a local engineer to earn her professional certificate. She is seriously considering launching her own construction company with a focus on building sustainable homes and infrastructure, in alignment with Indigenous culture and community needs. 

“I hope to be a part of building on the reservation, using innovative, sustainable approaches that give structures more longevity and actually make sense for our style of community,” she said. “We struggle with being disconnected from our culture, because it’s not ingrained in our daily lives. And I think we can draw on cultural perspectives and cultural knowledge to inform the way we design and to increase sustainability. I want to bring those ideas into my work.”

Ava, who brings a specific interest in improving community water systems, agrees that the scholarship played a powerful role in her ability to complete her studies. 

“It was really helpful, because I didn’t have to worry about taking out another student loan, or trying to work while going to school,” she shared. 

Already at work with an engineering firm based in Rapid City, Ava is gaining the professional knowledge she needs to support community development at home on the Pine Ridge Reservation.

“I’m really interested in the housing issue, because I grew up seeing firsthand how our community members have a difficult time finding any housing. And I’m really lucky because now, at my job, I get to support projects on Pine Ridge and on other organizations that are helping build up better homes and roads,” she said. 

Asked how she might encourage other young Native students to explore career opportunities in engineering, Ava shared what still inspires her to pursue work in civil engineering: the chance to make a difference in her community members’ lives. 

“Doing the work of developing housing and infrastructure is a good way to make a very direct change in your community. When you have the security of safe roads and safe homes, it takes a weight off your mind–and that will allow our community to focus on other issues, and uplift each other in the ways we need to thrive.”