‘Dirty Jobs’ star impressed by Build Dakota Scholarship Program

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – Southeast Technical College celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Build Dakota Scholarship Program on Thursday.

The celebration included a tour of their Healthcare Simulation Facility and a mock emergency scenario viewed both in-person and livestreamed on the campus.

Among those present to watch the Healthcare Simulation Facility in action was an outspoken supporter of vocational education and host of the TV show ‘Dirty Jobs’ Mike Rowe.

Thursday marked Rowe’s second visit to the campus.

“It was great six years ago when I came here for the first time. South Dakota, as far as I can tell, is definitely leading the country in proving what’s possible for people who master a skill that’s in demand and that’s what I try and do with my own foundation. To come here and to see it happening in real-time, especially a place like Southeast with this new simulation lab, the people who are over there who are engaged in learning the work are exactly that, they’re engaged, they’re having fun and they’re learning a skill that’s truly in demand,” said Rowe.

Rowe is the founder and CEO of the mikeroweWORKS Foundation which is dedicated to debunking the myths and misperceptions about the trades and helping close the skills gap. Rowe said he wants to use South Dakota as an example of what’s possible.

“You guys kind of already get it, more so than most people. So, my objective is to use South Dakota as an example for virtually every other state about what’s possible. I didn’t think anybody was larger than my own foundation. This is by a magnitude of three times, $44 million in scholarships for trades, that’s incredible, you know, that’s incredible,” said Rowe.

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