PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- The first board members of the Freedom Scholarship endowment fund have been appointed by Governor Kristi Noem.

Dana Dykhouse of Sioux Falls, is on the board of the Build Dakota Scholarship Fund, and says they will model this board on that one.

Other initial board members include Miles Beacom, Phyllis Heineman, Diana Vanderwoude and Chris Houwman.

Dykhouse says this will be a flexible program aimed at helping fill the tuition gap for students.

Dykhouse says companies and boards that donate to the scholarship fund can designate how those dollars can be used.

The scholarship endowment was created by this year’s legislature with fifty million dollars in state money. With other donations, the fund now has over one hundred seventy-five million dollars in commitments.