Mike Rowe visiting South Dakota to mark 10 years of Build Dakota Scholarship

Television personality will tour state technical schools later this month

(Courtesy of facebook.com/TheRealMikeRowe)

Television personality and skilled trades advocate Mike Rowe will visit South Dakota later this month to commemorate a decade of existence for the Build Dakota Scholarship, a program that assists students pursuing careers in high-demand fields.

The Build Dakota Scholarship Board Thursday announced Rowe, known for his strong support of vocational education, will join the Build Dakota team and local community members to celebrate the program's decade-long success in late September.

“We are honored to welcome Mike Rowe to South Dakota once again as we celebrate this significant milestone. Mike has been a tireless advocate for the skilled trades, and his support has helped to shine a spotlight on the importance of these careers,” said Dana Dykhouse, Chairman of the Build Dakota Scholarship Board. “His visit is a remarkable opportunity to recognize the achievements of our scholars and to underscore the vital role that vocational education plays in our state’s future.”

Since its launch, the Build Dakota Scholarship Program has aimed to address South Dakota's workforce needs by offering full-ride scholarships to students pursuing high-demand fields. Over the past decade, nearly 4,000 scholarships have been awarded, with more than $21 million in matching funds provided through partnerships with over 500 industry collaborators, according to program officials.

The Dirty Jobs star intends to visit the state’s technical colleges and vocational institutions, though details about dates, times and locations haven’t yet been publicized.