Western Dakota Tech program helps graduates start their careers [Video]

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – Western Dakota Tech is making it easier for its graduates facing financial barriers to start their careers.

The “One Step Closer” program helps pay for licenses and certifications required for careers like nursing and medical coding.

These exams often cost a lot of money, posing a challenge for graduates.

Western Dakota Tech was given a $50,000 grant from the Black Hills Area Community Foundation to support the program.

The school decided to invest its award in an endowment and a 25% match through the Foundation’s endowment matching program.

The school’s interim foundation director, Andrew Kapelewski, says after three to five years, the endowment will grow large enough to support the program forever.

“Over half of our students are Pell Grant eligible, which means they are coming from very low socioeconomic backgrounds, so while these are great high paying fields, very high need and serve South …