Aman scholarship off to good start

Applications for the Lloyd Aman Workforce Development Scholarship are being accepted through April 15.
The one-time $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to a graduating senior or Custer area resident who plans to pursue training/education toward a career in the skilled trade industry. The scholarship will be paid directly to the educational/training institution indicated in the application. Scholarship recipients are evaluated and selected by the Lloyd Aman Scholarship Committee.
“Custer has a tremendous need for trades  providers now. We are seeing growth now in our community,” said Janet Boyer, scholarship committee member. “All of those who live here and in the surrounding area want homes in good running order. This isn’t supposed to be a luxury. It is a necessity.”
The scholarship is in honor of the late Lloyd Aman, the well-known owner along with wife, Kitty, of L&A Welding in Custer.
Aman began his career in high school working out of his garage and eventually building (with his dad’s help) L&A Welding Shop.
Aman earned his welding certifications at a trade school in Casper, Wyo. He also learned machining from a local mentor, as well as by trial and error.
Aman was a life-long learner who enjoyed learning new skills, assisted frequently by YouTube.
“Lloyd was a very helpful and generous man who rescued many a Custer area resident with his variety of skills in mechanics, welding and machining,” said Aman’s friend and fellow committee member Mike Pahl. “Lloyd’s quality work and his commitment to his customers benefitted the Custer region for over 30 years. The goal of this scholarship is to remember and honor Lloyd and his commitment to helping others by assisting anyone who desires to pursue training/education toward a career in the skilled trade industry.”
Applicants must be a resident of the Custer area and either:
• A graduating senior in Custer High School or someone who has completed their General Education Diploma (GED high school equivalency diploma) pursuing training/education toward a career in the skilled trade industry in the fall of 2021.
• Has lived in the Custer area for the past 12 months and will pursue training/education toward a career in the skilled trade industry in fall of 2021.
Applicants must have a copy of a high school transcript or GED certification or college transcript and plan to pursue training/education at a technical college working toward a career in the skilled trade industry. Preference will be given to applicants pursing mechanics, welding or machining.
Selection committee members include Pahl, Boyer, longtime L&A employee Cody Barker, Custer Alternative School teacher David Williams, Custer Jr./Sr. High School counselor Athena Williams and Austin Wheeler of French Creek Supply.
“This scholarship reads like a proverb of wisdom, seeking people who are desiring to gain knowledge, willing to take advice and engage in training which requires discipline, in order to be of service to all members of our community,” Pahl said.
The Black Hills Area Community Foundation (BHACF) is the sponsor for the scholarship fund and all contributions made are 100 percent tax deductible. Pahl, Boyer and Mike Tennyson sit on the fundraising committee and more volunteers are needed. The campaign’s goal is $100,000, of which $24,250 has been raised, of which $4,650 has been awarded as a 25 percent matching endowment from BHACF.
Depending on the success of fundraising for the scholarship, multiple and/ or larger scholarships may be awarded in future years.
More information can be found by visiting bhacf.org/scholarships and scrolling down to the Lloyd Aman Scholarship. Contributions may be made online at bit.ly/lloydaman or mailed to BHACF, PO Box 231, Rapid City, SD 57709 Attn.: Barb Keene.
Tennyson said he is elated with the enormous response and the generosity of the area residents and businesses during the first month of the campaign.
 “We are well on our way to achieving our goal of $100,000 to provide a sustainable scholarship program for technical school education to better provide for workforce development for Custer area students and residents,” he said. “Our community is growing and with that the need for a trained workforce increases at the same time. It is the committee’s hope and goal to provide scholarships to facilitate a trained workforce, be it welders, mechanics, electricians, plumbers, carpenters or pharmacy technicians or the many other trades that don’t require a four-year college degree.”