DWU announces winners from Spring 2026 Scholarship Day

DWU announces winners from Spring 2026 Scholarship Day

27 high school seniors competed last month for the DWU's most prestigious scholarships as part of DWU's Spring Scholarship Day.

March 23, 2026

MITCHELL, S.D. - Dakota Wesleyan University has announced spring scholarship winners for the class of 2026.

27 high school seniors competed last month for the university's most prestigious scholarships as part of DWU's Spring Scholarship Day on Feb. 20. Students with outstanding academic status, leadership potential and commitment to serving others were invited to campus to meet with faculty, staff and students, or virtually, while exploring opportunities at DWU.

The following is a list of Randall and Presidential Leadership Scholarship winners, DWU's most competitive scholarships:

Randall Scholarship winners: To qualify for a Randall Scholarship, students must have at least a 3.5 GPA and must meet certain leadership/service qualifications. The scholarship is $100,000 over four years.

Olivia Prunty, Mitchell, Mitchell High School, daughter of John and Melissa Prunty
Titus Rust, Ruidoso, N.M., Imagine Learning Excellence Academy, son of Jason and Rebecca Rust
Emily Schettler, Sherburn, Minn., Martin County West High School, daughter of Eric and Stacy Schettler
Alexis VanderHam, Brandon, Brandon Valley High School, daughter of Jeremy and Barb VanderHam

Presidential Leadership Scholarship winners: To qualify for a Presidential Leadership Scholarship, students must have at least a 3.0 GPA and must meet certain leadership/service qualifications. The scholarship is $84,000 over four years.

Cade Leonhardt, Cresbard, Faulkton High School, son of Rick and Kim Leonhardt
Mckenzie Thompson, Tea, Tea Area High School, daughter of Ryan and Jennifer Thompson
Jovie Van Den Bosch, Chamberlain, Chamberlain High School, daughter of Todd and Kristi Van Den Bosch

DWU also awarded Achievement, John Wesley, Trustee and Presidential Scholarships.

Achievement Scholarship winners: To qualify for an Achievement Scholarship, students must have a 4.0 GPA. The award is for $16,000 and is renewable for up to 10 semesters if the student remains in good standing

Brooke Endorf, Canova, Hanson High School, daughter of Ben and Kelli Endorf, also awarded Impact, Alumni and dual credit scholarships
Latham Gabriel, Quinn, Philip High School, son of Jeff and Heather Gabriel, also awarded also awarded extra-curricular and dual credit scholarships
Elliot Hortness, Sisseton, Sisseton High School, daughter of Chris and Meggan Hortness, also awarded also awarded extra-curricular and dual credit scholarships
Grace Kenkel, Storm Lake, Iowa, Storm Lake Public High School, daughter of Nathan and Michelle Kenkel, also awarded also awarded extra-curricular and dual credit scholarships
Brady Murra, Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls Lincoln High School, son of Cory Murra and Vicki Murra, also awarded also awarded extra-curricular and dual credit scholarships
Rowan Simonson, Gordon, Neb., Gordon-Rushville High School, daughter of Brooke and Justin Simmons and Nic and Kori Simonson, also awarded also awarded extra-curricular and dual credit scholarships

John Wesley Scholarship winners: To qualify for a John Wesley Scholarship, students must have at least a GPA of 3.99-3.75. The award is for $14,750 and is renewable for up to 10 semesters if the student remains in good standing.

Madelyn Larsen, Chamberlain, Chamberlain High School, daughter of Ryan and Becky Larsen, also awarded Impact, Alumni and dual credit scholarships
Isabel LeFebvere, Tripp, Tripp-Delmont High School, daughter of Robert and Catherine Konrad, also awarded a dual credit scholarship
Soleil Mickelson, Faith, Sunshine Bible Academy, daughter of Tim and Courtney Mickelson, also awarded a dual credit scholarship
Addyson Salfrank, Aberdeen, Aberdeen Central High School, daughter of Jim and Christen Salfrank, extracurricular and dual credit scholarships
Mason Titeca, Big Timber, Mont., Sweet Grass County High School, son of Billy Cleveland and Misti Titeca, also awarded extracurricular and dual credit scholarships

Trustee Scholarship winners: To qualify for a Trustee Scholarship, students must have at least a GPA of 3.74-3.50. The award is for $13,750 and is renewable for up to 10 semesters if the student remains in good standing.

Alexis Bagley, Canova, Howard High School, daughter of Kyle Bagley, also awarded a dual credit scholarship
Natasha Foster, Mitchell, Mitchell High School, daughter of Chris and Rachael Foster, also awarded Mitchell Scholars Program, Alumni and dual credit scholarships
Lauryn Hirsch, Watertown, Watertown High School, daughter of Dan and Nicole Hirsch, also awarded extracurricular and dual credit scholarships
Alicia Rickett, Mitchell, Mitchell High School, daughter of Warren and Jennifer Clark, also awarded Mitchell Scholars Program and dual credit scholarships

Presidential Scholarship winners: To qualify for a Presidential Scholarship, students must have at least a GPA of 3.49-3.00. The award is for $13,000 and is renewable for up to 10 semesters if the student remains in good standing.

Wyatt Bult, Lennox, Lennox High School, son of Sarah Watts, also awarded an extracurricular scholarship
Grant McElmuray, Tekamah, Neb., MVAOCOU High School, son of Graig and Laura McElmuray, also awarded extracurricular and dual credit scholarships
Xavier O'Shea, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Jefferson High School, son of Brian and Heather O'Shea, also awarded an extracurricular scholarship
Laila Peters, Elk Point, Elk Point-Jefferson High School, daughter of Eric and Michelle Peters, also awarded Christian Leadership and extracurricular scholarships
Eric Sorensen, Mankato, Minn., Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School, also awarded an extracurricular scholarship