Scholar of the Week

December 16, 2018 - December 22, 2018

School

Elkton (605-542-2541)

GPA

3

Activities

Student Council, Choir, Band, School Play

Jayla Prosch is from Lake Benton, MN, located within Lyon-Lincoln Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

December 9, 2018 - December 15, 2018

School

Sioux Falls Christian High School (6053341422)

GPA

4.04

Activities

- High School soccer - team set school wins record and advanced to second round of play-offs for the first time in school history; 2-year varsity captain; 4-year varsity letter; All-State Soccer Team - Club soccer member; represented the Dakotas for three years that set SD record for winning two games at Regionals; also part of Midwestern Regional League - Has played piano since first grade; three-time Piano Festival participant - Member of school's HOSA (Health Occupations Student Association) chapter; received 4th and 6th place at state HOSA conference in Health Education and Sports Medicine - Youth Group participant and member of leadership team; Bible Study member - Collision Ministries participant - Mentor for elementary and MS students, as well as younger soccer players - Tutor for various work sessions and ACT prep sessions - Works part-time at B and G Milkyway and Eyesite - Volunteered at Avera approximately four hours per week over the last two summers; worked in same-day surgery area and reception, as well as in ambulatory where she prepared pre-op rooms for patients and prepared surgery bags - Works in the nursery along with various outreaches with her church (ex. Banquet, Kids Against Hunger, Something to Eat. etc.) - Coaches a kids soccer team - High Honor Roll every semester of high school - 2-year letter in track - Obtained Academic letter Two-time student of the month Inducted into the National Forensic League

Allison Young is from Sioux Falls, SD, located within Southeastern Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

December 2, 2018 - December 8, 2018

School

Chester Area School (6054892411)

GPA

4

Activities

I am nominating Bayden Schneider as a Touchstone Energy Scholar. Bayden achieves at a very high level academically while taking multiple difficult high school and college classes that are preparing him for a world beyond the doors of Chester High School. He maintains a 4.0 with these difficult classes as he is really committed to his academics. He is also extremely busy being involved in many activities in and out of school such as baseball, football, basketball, 1-Act drama, chorus, band, FFA and Honor Society to name a few. He has earned 2 summer scholarships through South Dakota School of Mines and Technology due to his academic achievements and summer camps that he has been involved in with engineering. He has also mentored children during the school year giving back to the school and community and volunteering his time to help his elderly neighbors with multiple jobs from taking docks out to mowing and snow removal and working on their roofs and landscaping. Bayden also volunteers at his church with soup suppers, cleaning the church, and church breakfasts and serving the banquet in Sioux Falls as well. Bayden does all of this while being a fulltime (in the summer) lifeguard from April through August for the past 4 years. He is also CPR and WSI (water safety instructor) certified as a lifeguard. Bayden has also been involved with EmPower Youth Leadership Program through Sioux Valley Energy where he has learned about COOPs and community enrichment that he has brought back to the Chester Area School and community. Without reservation I recommend him for this honor as he is a student that is greatly involved in his community while maintaining high academic standards and being a leader for his classmates.

Bayden Schneider is from Brant Lake, SD, located within Sioux Valley Energy, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

November 25, 2018 - December 1, 2018

School

Vermillion High School (677-7035)

GPA

4

Activities

cross country 9-12, basketball 9-11, track 9-12, National Honors Society 11-12, Fellowship of Christian Athletes 10-12, Boys State, Catholic Youth Organization, Tanager Volunteer Day 9-12, Volunteering at Welcome Table, Community Garden, Farm with dad.

Justin Sorensen is from Vermillion, SD, located within Clay-Union Electric Corporation, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

November 18, 2018 - November 24, 2018

School

Dakota Christian School (6052432211)

GPA

3

Activities

Activities Football - all four years Basketball - all four years Track - Freshman, Junior, and Senior Drama - Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, and senior if we have one Student Council - Freshman, Junior, and Senior Prairie Readers - 1st grade through Senior year Choir - all four years Band - all four years Archery - Freshman, Junior, Senior Trap shoot - Junior, Senior Awards Football - lettered four times, most improved sophomore year Basketball - lettered twice Track - lettered once Drama - lettered once Was on Student Council 3 times Choir - lettered all four years Band - lettered once Archery - "lettered" 3 times Highest GPA - twice so far

Alex Maas is from Harrison, SD, located within Douglas Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

November 11, 2018 - November 17, 2018

School

Scotland (6055832237)

GPA

4

Activities

Volleyball, Basketball, Track, Cheerleader, NHS, School Play, Girls State, Governor's Luncheon, TATU, Community Play, Volunteer at Heartland Humane Society, National Guard

Kelsi Nooney is from Scotland, SD, located within Bon Homme-Yankton Electric Assn., a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

November 4, 2018 - November 10, 2018

School

Ipswich Public (426)

GPA

4

Activities

NHS, FBLA, band, volleyball, basketball, numerous art awards (placed three years at the SD duck stamp competition, Faulkton art show ribbons, and placed 3rd at the NSU High School Art invitational). Olivia works so hard in all of her subjects, and juggles, school, college courses, and various activities. She is extremely involved in the arts, and spends most of her free time working on her projects. She also interns for me and helps the younger children with their art. Olivia is very deserving of this award.

Olivia Gohl is from Ipswich, SD, located within FEM Electric Association, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

October 28, 2018 - November 3, 2018

School

Aberdeen Central HS (6057258100)

GPA

4

Activities

Speech & Debate (two years), National Honor Society (Vice President), Volunteer Soccer Coach, Link/Crew Leader, Peer Tutor (two years), Church Youth Group Leader (two years), Soccer, Dance (two years)

Audrey Cihak is from Aberdeen, SD, located within Northern Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

October 21, 2018 - October 27, 2018

School

Waubay High School (605-947-4529)

GPA

4

Activities

Football Captain, basketball, track, National Honor Society, FFA, church youth group, honor roll, oral interp, one-act play, volunteer ref for jr. high basketball, and various community service projects

Lucas Breske is from Waubay, SD, located within Lake Region Electric Association, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

October 14, 2018 - October 20, 2018

School

Millbank High School (6054325546)

GPA

4

Activities

Katie is a member of the Milbank Honor Society, Milbank Honor Roll. Katie has participated in the South Dakota Big Idea Competition, and World Food Prize. Katie is a member of the TATU (Teens Against Tobacco Usage) Katie is a player on the Milbank Volleyball, Basketball and Track team. Katie is also a FFA member and Milbank Choir.

Katie Wollschlager is from LaBolt, SD, located within Whetstone Valley Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.