VERMILLION - Today Senator Billie Sutton, candidate for South Dakota governor, visited the University of South Dakota’s campus to meet with students and encourage their participation in the upcoming election.
Sutton has long been a champion for higher education in a state where tuition costs are now the second highest in the region. In his “Education for the Next Generation” plan, Sutton highlights the importance of an educated workforce and outlines his plans to make sure higher education is affordable and accessible for students of all interests and socioeconomic backgrounds.
One of Sutton’s long-term projects in the legislature has been support for the needs-based scholarship. Sutton says:
“In all of the US, only two states provide less to their students in need than we do. South Dakota provides a dismal $11.85 per Pell grant eligible student. Iowa provides almost $700 to each undergraduate receiving a Pell Grant, Minnesota provides $1,600, and Wyoming provides over $2,200. At the same time, South Dakota is now home to the most expensive tech schools in the region and has the second highest price tag for 4-year universities among surrounding states. Before we fall even further behind and lose our students to other states, we need to make efforts to ensure our students can afford an education in South Dakota. This will be a priority of mine as governor.”
Read the rest of Sutton’s Education for the Next Generation plan here.
Billie Sutton is a rancher, financial professional at a small community bank, State Senator, former professional rodeo cowboy, fifth-generation South Dakotan, and candidate for Governor.
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