When a former prestigious scholarship was about to be defunded, Jim and Barbara (Langenfeld) Aarstad generously stepped in to keep it going. Both the Aarstads are 1967 WHS graduates and want to continue to recognize one senior boy and one senior girl who demonstrate high qualities in school citizenship, participation, leadership and scholarship.

Al Reece graduated from SDSU and started teaching math at Watertown High School in 1931. He quit teaching in 1994 to purchase a company, but in 1991 returned to do what he loved... teaching.

Bob and Joyce generously pledged a one million dollar endowed gift to the Arrow Education Foundation for Watertown graduates who exhibit financial need and plan on continuing their post-secondary education in South Dakota. 

This annual scholarship is awarded to a student in the amount of $5,000 per year, totaling $10,000 over two years, and $20,000 over 4 years. 

Bob & Joyce had talked for years about giving back to the Watertown School District where they receieved their educational beginning. Bob says "We were lucky to attend the Watertown School system which prepared us to go on to college" When Joyce passed away, Bob decided it was time to make the pledge to the Foundation. 

The AEF is truly grateful for this very generous gift that enabls more WHS students to achieve their educational goals. 

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Charles Langenfeld was a member of the WHS Class of 1965. He was killed in 1968 while serving in the U.S. Navy in Vietnam.

The WHS Class of 1965 has set up this award to honor Charle's memory. It might very well be that the recipient of this scholarship may be an outstanding student, a superior debater, or a fine athlete. However, none of these accomplishments are necessary qualifications. Charlie was merely a fun-loving, caring person who knew no enemies. He could best be described as a person of many interests who was loved by virtually everyone who knew him.

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The Chelsea Ann Vilhauer Memorial Scholarship, in the amount of $1000, has been established in loving memory of Chelsea Ann Vilhauer who was born on October 8, 1990 and died February 7, 1991 of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Chelsea would have graduated with the class of 2009. Eligibility is open to a Watertown High School Senior who demonstrates academic excellence, leadership qualities, involved in extra curricular activities and is pursuing a medically-related field (medicine, pharmacy, nursing, therapy, etc.) The scholarship can be applied to the college or vocational school of the recipient's choice.

The WHS Class of 1961 was created and funded in 2021 by the class of 1961. The purpose of this fund is to aid WHS students that have a desire to become teachers and return to the Watertown School District to teach.

The purpose of the Class of '81 Scholarship fund is to assist a deserving Watertown Senior High School graduate to further their post-secondary education by providing financial assistance in the form of a yearly "scholarship". While WHS has provided (to all of us) a very strong foundation of knowledge, it is our sincere belief that further education is vital to building upon that foundation in an effort to give those that follow an opportunity to improve their likelihood of becoming successful and productive memory of society.

Dan served the Watertown Middle School for 4 decades!

Dan and Sandy are supporters of education and want young people to be able to become teachers.

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Dan, a 1995 WHS grad, was a three-sport letterman who was active in vocal and instrumental music all four years. He started his first band, Beta Carateen, in middle school. His senior year he was homecoming chieftain. Dan was a teacher and coach in Rapid City and continued to entertain many with his musical talents.

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Dan supported his Minnesota Vikings, and Minnesota Twins strongly! His family started this scholarship to keep his memory alive and encourage young students to pursue a higher education.

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Darwin Williams '43 (dec) and his wife, Fern have had a keen interest in helping Watertown students achieve their education goals. This scholarship is intended for students with a financial need to further their studies at an institute of higher education.

Dwight D Miller was associated with the Watertown School District for 42 years, serving as Superintendent from 1940-1968. He took great satisfaction in the accomplishments of Watertown graduates.

The Donus D Roberts Forensics Scholarship replaced the Randy Jackson Scholarship which was funded from 1978-1998. Mr. Roberts was director of forensics at Watertown High School from 1960-1999. The very successful forensics program developed during his tenure was based upon the philosophy of involving the greatest number of students in a forensics program of excellence. Upon Mr. Roberts’ retirement, Brad Johnson and Pat Howey, from the WHS Class of 1977, gathered seed money for a new Donus D. Roberts Forensics Scholarship. This scholarship was first awarded in 2006.

Criteria for those applying for this $500 scholarship include excellence in debate, a high GPA, and exemplary character.

This award is made by the Watertown High School debate coaching staff.

Music was their world and those who knew Doug and Donna would agree that the Carpenters personified Arrow music. Doug was the band director at WHS from 1960 to 1987. In 1975, he was named the South Dakota Teacher of the Year. He also directed the Watertown Municipal Band for 45 summers.​

Donna loved music and showed this through her piano teaching and accompanying for many band and choral soloists. Both Doug and Donna instilled the love of music in thousands of students who were privileged to receive instruction from the Carpenters.

Family members and friends have set up a scholarship in memory of the Carpenters' contributions to Arrow music. Funds from this scholarship will be available for a student graduating from WHS who demonstrates an interest in pursuing music education or music  performance in college.

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Dr. Robert H Cockle served as the Superintendent of the Watertown School District for 18 years. He was instrumental in the development and growth of the Lake Area Technical Institute. He believed that all high school graduates should have opportunities to attend post-secondary training at either a technical school or university. As a life-long educator, Dr. Cockle valued the idea of "life-long learners." This scholarship was created by the family of Dr. Robert H Cockle. 

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The Drake Alan Titze ‘Memorial Track Scholarship was established in Drake’s memory by his parents Dr. Leo and Bette Titze in 1998. The scholarship was transferred to the Arrow Education Foundation by Drake’s siblings in 2011. The scholarship will be awarded annually to a talented track or cross country senior who will be attending college.

Mr. Titze graduated from WHS in 1971. He was an outstanding athlete and received honors in music, journalism, citizenship, academics and student government at the local and state level. He was Most Valuable Runner in cross country from 1968 to 1970. In track, he still holds the WHS school record for the 800 meter run at 1:53.7. He was inducted into the Watertown Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999.

Drake attended the University of Missouri on a full track scholarship, majoring in journalism. After receiving his degree from University of SD School of Law, he served as a public defender and had his private law practice until his passing in 1994.

Mr. Titze’s family includes Dr. Grant ’73 and Deb (Mohror) ’74 Titze, Blair ’80 and Nancy (Oviatt)’79 Titze and Meg (Titze) Beck ’77.

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The Eric Tennis Memorial Scholarships were established in Eric’s memory by his family and friends after his passing in November 2008. Eric was 30 years young at the time of his death. He had been confined to a wheel chair his entire life and he often said. "You can have a disability without being disabled.” He was a dedicated Watertown Arrows fan, a mentor for third grade students at Roosevelt, and a loyal and enthusiastic team member at Country Fair Grocery Store, where he once won a statewide award for customer service. When asked by his friend Rick Melmer, former Watertown Superintendent of Schools and former Secretary of the Department of Education for the State of South Dakota, about the tremendous source of his happiness, Eric said, "It’s my choice. If I weren’t happy, who would be my friend?”

Eric Tennis was a man with a giant attitude of good will for everyone he ever met, regardless of age, sex, ability, wealth or position. He brought the best attitude to everything he touched and did, and every challenge he encountered. Eric’s scholarships will be awarded to a senior boy and girl who each demonstrate Eric’s joyful spirit and attitude and who have endured challenges. The $500 award may be used for technical school, college, or university. A 2.8 GPA is required. Mr. Tennis’s family includes his father Robert Tennis of Conde; his mother Paula (Harold) Thaden of Wilmont; his grandmother Shirley Tennis of Conde; and his brothers and families, Todd and Amy Tennis and Tiffany and Whitney of Clarkfield, MN, and Sean and Laurie (Satter) ’90 Tennis and Sierra and Katie of Watertown.

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Ernie and LuAnn Edwards benefited greatly from their studies and activities at the University of South Dakota, and from the relationships they developed there. It is the Edwards family wish to support others in their pursuit of a four-year college education at a South Dakota public university, in particular first-generation college students, with an annual $1,000 scholarship award to one WHS graduating senior each year. This scholarship is offered in recognition of: 1) the unique role public higher education plays in the economic mobility and personal development of those individuals who pursue it with purpose; 2) the public good, in economic, cultural, and civic terms, served by an increased number of people with college educations; and 3) the extra effort and courage it can take to be a first-generation college student.

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Edward T Dayton (1930-1988) who lived his entire life in Watertown, left a significant portion of his estate to the Watertown School District Endowment Fund.

Mr. Dayton graduated from WHS in 1948. He attended Luther College and SDSU. He was a shoe salesman for Sperling's Shoe Store and Shoe Store Manager for J.C. Penney Co. He retired in 1984. Mr. Dayton enjoyed his life in Watertown. His way of rewarding the community, which nurtured and supported him, was to leave a portion of his estate for a perpetual scholarship fund. This seemed to Mr. Dayton to be the best way he could express his gratitude to the school system which educated him and to help future generations of Watertown citizens.

An endowment was established in 2004 to fund a scholarship in honor of Miss Florence Bruhn. Miss Bruhn began her teaching career in Watertown in 1939 and retired after close to 40 years of service. Her commitment and encouragement in the visual and theater arts impacted thousands of students of WHS as well as the citizens of Watertown and South Dakota. The Florence M. Bruhn Scholarship is awarded to a WHS senior student committed to a post-secondary education in theatre or visual arts.

The Green, Roby & Oviatt law firm is made up of four WHS graduates who re offering this scholarship in hopes of assisting a fellow alumni in their pursuit of higher education.

WHS 1980 Graduate, Gretchen Roti is providing a scholarship for a WHS student who will be attending Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD with a sincere interest in attaining a college degree in any field. The successful candidate will have a very positive attitude, a joyful spirit, involved with family, community and/or extra-curricular student activities, and has endured challenges. 

Harry and Florence retired from the Watertown Public Schools in 1995 after a rewarding career working at the elementary level. This scholarship opportunity has been provided for the encouragement of the WHS graduates to pursue a degree in elementary education leading to a teaching career at the elementary school level.

Jerry "Mac" McElroy who taught and coached in Watertown from 1961-1996. "Mac" taught physical education, science and drivers education, plus coached several sports in his 35 years in the school system. He received many awards while coaching that include the SD Track Coach of the Year, SD Cross-Country Coach of the Year, and he was inducted into the SD High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame.​

Throughout his teaching and coaching tenure from 1954-1996 in Tripp, Woonsocket and Watertown, "Mac" touched the lives of students and adults alike. The enthusiasm he had for young people was felt by everyone that he taught and coached. He was genuinely interested in every person and served as an excellent role model. As a basketball referee in his spare time, Jerry also touched the lives of students and adults in surrounding area towns.​

"A man who truly loved kids and enjoyed coaching and teaching. Always a big smile!" A quote I remember from football practice, "This is not tough! When I played, I could fold up my helmet and put it in my back pocket!"

Here's another... Our sophomore basketball team wasn't very good. At practice, on a day while he was assigning us to run the steps in the arena (probably 100 times) Coach Mac said, "We may not be very good and may not win many games, but we will be in the best condition and have the best looking cheerleaders in the ESD conference!"​

Another memory is how Jerry would tease Dale McElhany that Dale was Mac#2 and he (Jerry) would always be Mac#1.

There should be more Jerry McElroy's in the world!   Tim Kosier '66

During the 1956-1960 years, Jim Marking served as head basketball coach at WHS. He was coaching the 1959 team that won the State A tournament. He believed that all high school graduates should have the opportunity to attend post-secondary training at a college or university. As a life-long educator, Mr. Marking valued the idea of "life-long learners".

A new scholarship is being developed in memory of Larry Rohde who lived in the Watertown community since the early 1990's until his passing in December of 2013.  Larry was married to Tammy (Brink) Rohde and a proud father of three children, Donielle (Rohde) Archer, Chad Rohde ’98, and Lindsey (Rohde ‘04) Johnson.  As a city of Watertown employee he grew to be an avid supporter of the Purple and Gold. The Rohde family would love nothing more than to keep spreading Larry’s love for the sport of track and field.  

Once established, funds from this scholarship will be available to WHS seniors who have participated in track and field and are going to attend a post secondary school to attain any degree. 

The Marty Kranz Scholarship is awarded to a graduating senior who exemplifies Marty’s character and spirit, with priority given to a person who has participated in athletics.

Martin (Marty) James Allen Kranz graduated from WHS in 2002 and from SDSU in 2007 with a degree in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation. As a former WHS three sport athlete and SDSU football player, Marty began his teaching career in Clear Lake and his goal was to teach and coach in the Watertown School District.

Marty challenged everyone, from those in his personal relationships to his students, to do their best, to live with honor and integrity, and to be better. He was a man of true character, treating everyone with respect and kindness.

The Marty Kranz Scholarship has been established in Marty’s memory by his family and friends, including his wife Stefanie (Petersen) Kranz ‘03; his parents Matt ‘70 and Judy Kranz; his parents-in-law Dave and Mary Petersen; five brothers, Marvin ‘91 and Jennifer, Mark ‘93 and Stacey, Matti ‘95 and Christie (Reiffenberger) ’95, Mike ’00 and Julie, and Mitch ’06; his two sisters, Michele ’94 and Scott Bares and Maria ’97 and Eddy Roesch; two brothers-in-law Tony ’01 and Nick ’05 Petersen; and many extended family members.

This scholarship was named for the late Mike Rukstad and Bob Collins, who were outstanding debaters from 1969 to 1972.

The purpose of this fund is to enhance the opportunities for WHS students to participate in interscholastic forensics and to promote their participation is such activities.

This scholarship was established in honor of Mike Engels, state champ in 1970 and runner up in 1968 and 1969. This scholarship is to acknowledge the contributions Mike made to student athletes and all of his accomplishments as a coach at SDSU.

The Davis Award, highest honor given to a Watertown High School graduating senior, was established in 1920 by Arnold Davis of the class of 1890 in memory of his father, Napoleon J. Davis, who was an active member of the Watertown School Board from 1885-1910. This award is given to the graduating senior who, in the opinion of the high school faculty, exemplifies school citizenship, leadership, and participation and demonstrates high standards in personal living along with scholastic achievement.  

The scholarship award had a monetary value of $150 in 2005. In response to a campaign initiated that year by the Arrow Education Foundation, former Davis Award recipients and their families and friends have made donations increasing the Arrow Education Foundation Davis Award supplemental endowment to over $23,000.  One of the very generous contributors and past Davis Award recipient, Maynard Raasch, PhD ’33, of Wilmington, Delaware wrote, "It is my wish that this (donation) be used to match or exceed the value of other scholarships, which you state are $1000.” As a result of the campaign, Davis Award recipients receive $1000!

Thanks to Dr. Raasch, Mr. William Castle '38 and the many contributors, the Davis Award now has a monetary significance worthy of WHS’s highest honor.

Thank you to everyone who has made this possible.

This scholarship fund is in honor of Nick and Florence Kranz, whose insistence on getting their kids to school each day, regardless of weather - and then putting each one through college - was an indication of their feelings that education was important. Mr. Kranz also served on the Watertown School Board for a number of years and was involved when the technical school was started.

Pete truly loved aviation and thoroughly enjoyed his time as a private pilot but always wanted to be a commercial pilot. Time and money stopped his dream. Pete has left a legacy that will help a student each year achieve his/her dream to become a pilot with this scholarship!

The Fox family has been a part of the Watertown community and its education system since before statehood. That tradition has been carried down through the generations to include the children of Lee and Donna Fox-Schoenbeck. This scholarship is given in the spirit of recognizing a young person who has been involved in their community, has a strong sense of family, and has a desire to make a difference in the future of their community and state.

$400.00 with possible $100 Bonus

Stuart Stein (WHS '01) created a golf scholarship for a WHS graduates, male linksters. He played golf all four years of high school and went on to play at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, SD. Stuart currently resides in Watertown, SD and is the General Manager of Stein Sign Display. He also serves as the President of the Watertown School Board. Stuart is married to Crystal Stein and together they have four children, two of which are named after golf courses. Macie, Madden (named after The Classic at Madden’s), Andrew (named after St. Andrews), and Ethan.

The challenge of the game, the competition, and the lifelong friendships that are formed are the reasons why Stuart loves the game of golf. As an added feature, a $100 Bonus will be awarded if the recipient is able to beat Mr. Stein in a round of golf! 

The Voegle family offers a $2,000 scholarship with distribution starting with the Class of 2019. Family member, Mark, credits his career in Information Technology to the kickstart he received in computer programing at Watertown High School that led to a computer science degree at MN State University - Mankato. Stating that, "Our country needs more graduates with STEM degrees." The student who receives this scholarship will be one who plans to pursue a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math. 

The Watoma Club of Watertown has established a scholarship for a WHS graduate who has participated in track or cross country for 3 years.