March 29, 2024

Private Catholic colleges offer great opportunities for their students. To make the tuition more affordable, the Diocese of Sioux Falls offers the Bishop Hoch Scholarship program, a $1,000 scholarship given to one student in each of its seven deaneries every year.

The scholarships can be used to attend either Mount Marty College in Yankton or Presentation College in Aberdeen in the next academic year. The awards can be used by new students, current students and non-traditional students.

Margaret Barnett, parishioner at St. John the Baptist in Wagner, was awarded one of the scholarships last year. She is majoring in biology at Mount Marty College in Yankton and says the scholarship has helped her focus on her studies instead of worrying about tuition all the time.

She chose Mount Marty after a visit to the campus. It felt peaceful and like a good place to grow her faith.

“I felt the love and the prayer of the sisters just kind of flow down to the campus,” she said. “That’s why I got excited about going there and decided to go to a private school.”

Once the decision was made, paying for it became her next priority. The Bishop Hoch Scholarship helped to make it possible.

“I’m just so grateful because it’s one less stress off my shoulders,” she said.

To apply for the scholarship, visit sfcatholic.org/catholic-schools/bishop-hoch-scholarship. Deadline is March 15.