Every year, one of the best parts of spring at Santel is getting the opportunity to recognize young people from our communities who are working hard, planning for their futures, and preparing to make an impact right here in South Dakota.
From college scholarships to workforce development opportunities, these programs are all rooted in the same belief that built this cooperative back in 1952 “investing in local people matters.”
This year, Santel Communications is proud to recognize the recipients of the 2026 Ray Judy Memorial Scholarships, along with two additional students being recognized through the Build Dakota Scholarship program and Santel’s World of Work initiative.
The Ray Judy Memorial Scholarship
The Ray Judy Memorial Scholarship honors the legacy of Ray Judy, a founding member and the first general manager of the original Sanborn Telephone Cooperative, now known as Santel Communications. Ray believed strongly in the future of rural South Dakota and the importance of investing in local communities.
Each year, Santel awards scholarships to high school seniors whose families are active Santel customers and who plan to continue their education at a South Dakota post-secondary institution. For the 2026 school year, Santel awarded ten $750 scholarships, along with two additional $300 random-draw scholarships.
Santel World of Work & Build Dakota Recognition
In addition to this year’s scholarship recipients, Santel would also like to recognize two students participating in workforce development opportunities that help connect education directly to careers here in South Dakota.
Oscar Anderson — Build Dakota Scholarship Recipient
Oscar Anderson has been selected as a recipient of the Build Dakota Scholarship program, an initiative focused on helping students pursue high-need workforce careers across South Dakota.
Through a partnership between Build Dakota and Santel, almost all of Oscar’s schooling expenses will be covered while he pursues his education and training.The program helps students receive financial assistance toward their education while making a commitment to live and work in South Dakota following graduation.
Clay Moody — Santel World of Work Participant
Santel would also like to recognize Clay Moody for participation in the Santel World of Work program. Clay received a $1,500 scholarship from Santel and was selected as a recipient of the South Dakota Telecommunications Association (SDTA) Scholarship for $2,000.
Programs like World of Work help students gain hands-on experience, explore career opportunities, and develop real-world skills before entering the workforce full-time. Investing in students today helps ensure strong local communities tomorrow, and we’re proud to play a small role in helping young people discover opportunities close to home.
Investing in Rural South Dakota
At Santel, we believe supporting our communities goes beyond providing internet, phone, and television services.
Whether it’s scholarships, internships, workforce development, local events, or community projects, we believe rural South Dakota grows stronger when local organizations continue investing in the next generation.
Congratulations again to all of this year’s recipients. We’re excited to see what the future holds for each of you.