RAPID CITY, South Dakota, Aug. 7 -- The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology issued the following news release:

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Mines Graduate Student Earns Prestigious NSF Fellowship

In 2014, after graduating high school, Whitney Ponwith decided to take some time before going to college.

"I had a few adverse years after high school and needed time before I was ready for college," she said.

Her decision paid off.