When Nathan left California for South Dakota, he carried little more than a backpack, a suitcase, and a leap of faith.
“I just took what I had … and flew out,” he recalled. “I didn’t know anyone. I didn’t even know what it looked like here.”
Today, he is preparing to graduate from Mitchell Technical College with a career secured, a supportive community behind him, and a future that once seemed impossible — all made possible by determination, local generosity, and the Build Dakota Scholarship.
Growing up in a single-parent household, Nathan learned early that survival often came before opportunity. While living in California, he worked continuously just to help cover basic expenses.
“My rent was $2,600 a month,” he said. “We were pretty much trapped in how much we were making and how much we had to spend just to survive.”
College didn’t feel like an option.
“I considered college to be a privilege only afforded by people born into easier situations,” he said.
That changed when his grandparents in Texas saw a television advertisement for Mitchell Technical College and encouraged him to look into it. During his research, Nathan discovered the Build Dakota Scholarship — a program that covers tuition, fees, books, and other costs for high-demand workforce programs in South Dakota.
Not fully understanding how it would all work, he decided to take a risk anyway.
Nathan arrived in Mitchell as a spring-start student with no vehicle, no local connections, and limited funds. He rented an Airbnb for about a month and walked everywhere — including to work and class.
“I’d walk about an hour to get to work and an hour to school,” he said. “Sometimes people would see me walking in a blizzard and ask if I needed a ride.”
Despite the hardship, he remained focused on building a better future. His persistence quickly paid off when he found work locally, began forming friendships, and slowly built a support system in a community that had once felt completely foreign.
Throughout his journey, Nathan encountered people willing to help. One of the earliest turning points came when Mitchell Tech employee Darryl Bird noticed Nathan walking everywhere and donated a mountain bike. What might have seemed like a simple gesture dramatically changed Nathan’s day-to-day life.
“When I got that bike, it changed the entire world for me,” Nathan said.
The bike cut his commute time in half and opened the city to him.
Later, an anonymous donor contributed toward his tuition. After reading his thank-you note, that same donor helped arrange a vehicle for him.
These acts of kindness, along with the Build Dakota Scholarship, allowed him not only to continue his education but also to support his family financially — something he never imagined possible while struggling in California.
Nathan chose to enroll in Mitchell Tech’s Electrical Construction & Maintenance program, driven by a long-standing fascination with wiring and engineering that began with studying submarine technology and nuclear systems.
“When I heard there was an electrical program, I knew that’s what I wanted to do,” he said.
He thrived academically, eventually becoming a tutor for both electrical courses and general education classes. He also immersed himself in campus life, joining the Student Representative Board and mentoring fellow students — especially those who felt isolated or overwhelmed.
“I wanted to create opportunities for people who didn’t know anyone here to find their people,” he said.
Receiving the Build Dakota Scholarship marked a turning point.
Through the program, he partnered with Muth Electric, the industry sponsor that will employ him for 3 years after graduation. The partnership not only covered his educational costs but also provided a direct pathway into the workforce with a respected regional employer.
“It’s not just about cost,” he explained. “It’s about opportunity.”
Nathan is now preparing to graduate — an achievement that will bring his entire family together for the first time in more than a decade.
“I never thought college or owning a home would be possible,” he said.
He plans to remain in South Dakota after graduation, continue building his career, and eventually purchase a home. He also hopes to pay forward the help he received — even planning to give his current vehicle to someone else in need.
“I’m trying to do the same thing for others that was done for me,” he said.
For students considering the Build Dakota Scholarship, Nathan’s advice is simple: take the chance.
“Free, high-quality education is an opportunity that’s almost unheard of,” he said. “If you want it, I don’t see why you shouldn’t go for it.”
