The board of directors of the John T. Vucurevich Foundation has awarded $180,000 in scholarships to area schools.

Black Hills State University, South Dakota State University's West River Nursing Program and Western Dakota Technical Institute each were awarded $60,000 to provide scholarships to South Dakota students in critical work-force-shortage areas, according to a news release from the foundation.

The scholarships will provide $1,000 for the spring 2008 semester and $2,000 for the 2008-2009 academic year for math and science education students at BHSU, baccalaureate nursing students at SDSU's West River Nursing program and students enrolled in work-force-shortage areas through the core programs of general education and business, construction, health, legal and public services, mechanics and technical at Western Dakota Technical Institute.

Additionally, First People's Fund in Rapid City was awarded $50,000 for training in business leadership, marketing and promotion as well as providing success coaches for Lakota artists. Earlier this year, a scholarship award of $50,000 was made to the University of South Dakota West River School of Nursing, and $300,000 was awarded to the Rapid City School District to fund an internship and apprenticeship program for three years at Central High School.

Additional grants awarded by the foundation at its November meeting include:

* Black Hills Area Community Foundation, Rapid City, $75,000 to be distributed over two years for operating support.

* Behavior Management Systems, Rapid City, $75,000 to provide reduced-fee psychiatric services to provide access to mental-health care for needy individuals in western South Dakota.

* Salvation Army, Rapid City, $50,000 for rent and utility assistance for needy individuals in Rapid City.

* United Way of the Black Hills, $35,000 for 2008 campaign and $10,000 for Imagination Library.

* Rural America Initiatives, Rapid City, $39,674 for a mentoring program for Native American students.

* Black Hills Community Food Bank, Rapid City, $30,800 for the backpack weekend food program in Rapid City area schools to provide those students on the waiting list access to the program.

* Abbott House, Mitchell, $30,000 for equipment for its youth female residential-treatment center.

* Canyon Lake Senior Citizens Center, Rapid City, $20,000 for life-safety equipment.

* Black Hills Symphony, Rapid City, $11,100 for outreach programs in Rapid City.

* Crisis Intervention Shelter Service, Sturgis, $7,800 for equipment at its domestic and sexual violence shelter.

* Mammoth Site of Hot Springs, $7,638, to purchase display equipment.

* Northern Hills YMCA, Lead, $5,000 for a renovation project to help its preschool program.

The John T. Vucurevich Foundation funding priorities are in the arts, education, health and human services, housing and transportation. The Black Hills Community Needs Assessment indicated major concerns in this area include alcohol and drug use/abuse; mental-health issues such as stress, anxiety, depression and lack of drug or alcohol prevention; and suicide prevention and intervention. This report, along with feedback from other forums, has encouraged the foundation board to take steps to further understand the problem, according to the news release.

For further information on grant application procedures, call the John T. Vucurevich Foundation office at 343-3141 or go to its Web site at www.jtvf.org.