What does it take to be a Touchstone Energy Scholar of the Week? It's not just about grades or athletic ability. It takes a well-rounded individual that excels in the classroom and the community.
Touchstone Energy Cooperatives and Dakota News Now have joined together to recognize the achievements of high school seniors throughout the region. "Touchstone Energy Scholar of the Week" has been celebrating the achievements of high school seniors since 2002. Recipients are highly motivated high school seniors who excel in the classroom and community. This program was founded on the four pillars of Touchstone Energy: Integrity, Accountability, Innovation and a Commitment to Community. For more information on the program please call your local Touchstone Energy cooperative.
If there are outstanding seniors in your school that you would like to recognize, please nominate them here.
This Week's Scholar
Emmerson Larson
Willow Lake School
Emmerson will be featured on Dakota News Now during the 6:00PM news on Monday, October 13 and again on the Dakota News Now morning news on Tuesday, October 14 between 6:00AM and 7:00AM.
Ashlin DeBoer
November 24, 2019 - November 30, 2019
- School
- Corsica-Stickney School District (6059465475)
- GPA
- 4.25
- Activities
- Volleyball- 6 year participant, track and field- 3 year participant and letterwinner for three years, basketball- 2 years, Family Career and Community Leaders of Americas- 4 year member, four year state participant, two golds and one silver at the state convention, National Honor society- three year participant and currently the historian, student council- 6 year member and current vice-president for class, yearbook-4 years, band- 6 year participant, choir-4 years and all-state choir one year
Ashlin DeBoer is from Corsica, SD, located within Douglas Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Titus Waldner
November 17, 2019 - November 23, 2019
- School
- Hitchcock-Tulare High School (6055964171)
- GPA
- 3.5
- Activities
- Student Body President, FFA Chapter President, Student Council Representative, Varsity Football Team Captain, Varsity Basketball
Titus Waldner is from Huron, SD, located within Dakota Energy Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Zachary Mueller
November 10, 2019 - November 16, 2019
- School
- Leola School District (605-439-3142)
- GPA
- 3.67
- Activities
- Zach has been an active in various school and community activities throughout high school. He has been able to prioritize academic accomplishments and success while being engaged in these various activities. Zach strives to grow as a student as he plans to further his education following high school at SDSU with his focus in sports medicine. Zach participated in a service learning project last year where he assisted the school’s physical education teacher in teaching physical education to the elementary students grades K-5. He was selected to represent Leola at the Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership seminar and represented the Leola Legion Post at SD Boys’ State. Zach has received a letter for his participation in football, basketball, and track every year in high school. He displays leadership qualities to his younger teammates on and off the field/court. He has been a member of the school’s Peer Helpers which has provided educational discussions for elementary students and planned high school events. He has been a letter recipient in band, choir and show choir since the 8th grade. Zach has received multiple awards for his participation in choral and band ensembles. He has been a member of the schools FBLA chapter, holding the office of Historian for one year, and participates in their Spring Leadership Conference. Zach has been an active member of the school student body government every year in high school holding different offices. This year Zach is the Vice President of STUCO. Outside of school, he is employed by the city as a lifeguard for the last three summers. Zach is a bell ringer and acolyte for St. Paul Lutheran and has volunteered for six years to assist during the community’s vacation Bible school program. He has been a member of 4-H shooting sports and the State 4-H Performing Arts Corp. He volunteers his services during the city wide auction and community play as a concession stand worker.
Zachary Mueller is from Leola, SD, located within FEM Electric Association, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Lauren Rhodes
November 3, 2019 - November 9, 2019
- School
- Aberdeen Central (605-725-8100)
- GPA
- 4.32
- Activities
- South Dakota Girls State, National Qualifier Speech and Debate (30th in nation), President LGBTQ Club, Officer Model UN, Northern State Regional Science Bowl Winner, Bausch and Lomb Outstanding Science Student, Language Arts Outstanding nonfiction award, National Honor Society
Lauren Rhodes is from Aberdeen, SD, located within Northern Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Tracy Pillatzki
October 27, 2019 - November 2, 2019
- School
- Milbank School (6054325546)
- GPA
- 4.1
- Activities
- Tracy is a member of the Milbank National Honor Society; Tracy is in volleyball, girls basketball, track. Tracy is also a member of the Milbank High School Band and Chorus. Tracy is a member of the Grant County 4-H program; and St Lawrence Youth Group.
Tracy Pillatzki is from CORONA, SD, located within Whetstone Valley Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Owen Comes
October 20, 2019 - October 26, 2019
- School
- Waverly-South Shore (605-886-9174)
- GPA
- 4.08
- Activities
- Student Council President, Region Student Council Vice President, National Honor Society Member, Band member, Choir Member, Represents WSS at All-State Choir, Lettered in Football, Lettered in Basketball (won Hustle award twice), Lettered in Track, Lettered in Theater (won best actor twice and best supporting actor once) member of a National History Day National Team (represented WSS in Washinton DC), Represents WSS at several math competitions (member of 2 teams that won team titles and placed individually in 3 competitions) Member of local 4-H, Member of local church Youth Group, Volunteers for activities at the local Domestic Violence Center and Humane Society
Owen Comes is from Watertown, SD, located within Codington-Clark Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Haley Pedersen
October 13, 2019 - October 19, 2019
- School
- Hamlin High School (605-783-3644)
- GPA
- 4.03
- Activities
- SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), Book Club, Family Career and Community Leaders of America, recognized as Student of the Month in 9th grade, Skills USA - 1st place at State, National Honor Society. Haley is ranked 2 of 48 students in her senior class. She has already taken four dual credit courses, and is currently in two this semester. She has taken Health Science CTE courses and will complete Health Science 2 in the Spring where she will also earn Medical Terminology credits through LATI. She plans to attend LATI for Nursing next fall and will begin her college career with a strong base. We, at Hamlin, feel Haley is well deserving of this award.
Haley Pedersen is from Hayti, SD, located within H-D Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Derek Pravecek
October 6, 2019 - October 12, 2019
- School
- Scotland (6055832237)
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Football, Golf, National Honor Society, FFA, Boys State, Youth Business Adventure, Gifted Program, Bausch & Lomb Science Award, #1 in the senior class for GPA.
Derek Pravecek is from Scotland, SD, located within Bon Homme-Yankton Electric Assn., a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Callie Frei
September 29, 2019 - October 5, 2019
- School
- Wagner High School (605-384-5426)
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- National Honor Society Volleyball Academic Letter Winner Wrestling Statistician FFA GOLF Volleyball Letterwinner Student Council FCA member Mentoring 4H
Callie Frei is from Wagner, SD, located within Charles Mix Electric Association, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Sierra Heidinger
September 22, 2019 - September 28, 2019
- School
- Corsica-Stickney (6059465475)
- GPA
- 4.11
- Activities
- Volleyball- 6 years- 1 year letterwinner, football cheerleader- 2 years and 2 year letter winner, basketball cheerleader-1 year and 1 year letter winner, track and field- 4 years and letterwinner for four years, choir- 6 years and lettered 2 years, band-6 years and lettered 2 years, student council treasurer and secretary- 3 years, All-school play-3 years, Oral Interpretation- 1 year, National Honor Society-3 years and currently the secretary, Family Career and Community Leader- 4 years- gold every year at the state convention and two top superiors, Youth group with her church for 7 years, all-state choir participant for one year and an alternate for all-state choir for one year, and participant in the Augustana University band festival for two years.
Sierra Heidinger is from Plankinton, SD, located within Central Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.