Western Dakota Association Male and Female Senior Scholar Award

Since 2009, the Western Dakota Association has recognized one boy and girl student-athlete annually through its WDA Senior Scholar Award. The award, which is tied to the North Dakota Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NDIAAA) scholarship program, is open to all conference members. Each member school can submit a completed application for one boy and one girl student-athlete to be considered for the WDA's $500 scholarship award. The WDA is proud to have its, premiere partner, Farmers Union Insurance, a contributor to this project. The conference activities directors review the applications and select the recipients which are announced in March. The winners join the other region scholarship recipients from across the state who are then eligible for the state NDIAAA scholarship. The applications for the state winners are forwarded to a review panel at the sectional level. Sectional winners then qualify for the national award. The scholarships are paid directly to the higher education institution in which the recipient will attend. For more on the NDIAAA scholarship program, click here. WDA Senior Scholar Recipients Year Boy Scholar Winner Girls Scholar Winner 2009 Sam Aneson, Mandan Mollie Fearing, Williston  2010 Tyler Eikens, Williston  Ashley Jahner, Dickinson  2011  Kasey Gengler, Jamestown Anna Hruby, Bismarck High 2012 Devin Coyle, Mandan Tara Haussler, Bismarck High  2013 Austin Mack, Dickinson Rachel Power, St. Mary's 2014  Ben Wanner, Mandan Emily Lysne, Williston 2015 Waylon DeCoteau, TMCHS* Rachel Lantz, Dickinson 2016 Ben Hanson, Jamestown Ali Froehlich, Mandan 2017 Brian Swanberg, Legacy Emily Bichler, St. Mary's 2018 Brody Armstrong, Minot* Elizabeth Leingang, Mandan 2019 Will Madler, Bismarck High Kailey Weigel, Legacy 2020 Aaron Riopelle, Mandan Alexis Dressler, Legacy* 2021 Jaxon Duttenhefer, Mandan Taylor Leingang, Mandan 2022 Chance Bowlinger, Bismarck Century Madison Spacher, Watford City  2023 Kolden Kringen, Williston Anna Bendish, Mandan * State Scholar Recipient

Williston's Kolden Kringen (left) and Mandan's Anna Bendish were the recipients of the 2022-23 WDA Senior Scholar Award. Presenting the awards was Jamie Ressler of Farmers Union Insurance. Farmers Union is the premiere sponsor of the Western Dakota Association and provides a match in funds for the scholarships. Photo by WDA SID