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Scholar of the Week
Winners

Winners

View the current list of winners for this year’s Scholar of the Week program. The Scholar of the Week program is a partnership between Dakota News Now and your local Touchstone Energy Cooperatives that honors the region’s accomplished high school students. Each weekly winner receives a cash award from their local Touchstone Energy Cooperative and is featured on Dakota News Now. All winners are also eligible to receive one of the three scholarships that are given away at the annual Scholar of the Year banquet. Nominations for the weekly awards are submitted by area school principals and faculty, whose selections were based on excellence in the classroom and service in the community.

Grayson Rice

Grayson Rice

April 20, 2025 - April 26, 2025

School
Gayville-Volin High School (6052674476)
GPA
4.16
Activities
Basketball: 7th-12th grade Football: 9th-10th, 12th grade (Raider Award 2022) Golf: 11th-12th grade Track & Field: 9th-10th grade (Raider Award 2022) Student Council: 9th-12th grade FCA: 10th-12th grade Mentoring: 9th-10th grade Band: 9th grade High Honor Roll: 9th - 11th grade (12th grade determined in January)

Grayson Rice is from Gayville, SD, located within Clay-Union Electric Corporation, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

Presley Slaba

Presley Slaba

April 13, 2025 - April 19, 2025

School
Wagner High School (605-384-5426)
GPA
4
Activities
oral interp, school play, cross country, basketball statistician, track, National Honor Society, Student Council, Hope Squad, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, yearbook/journalism, and choir

Presley Slaba is from Wagner, SD, located within Charles Mix Electric Association, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

Brock Hinker

Brock Hinker

April 6, 2025 - April 12, 2025

School
Corsica-Stickney High School (605-946-5475)
GPA
3.92
Activities
Chorus, Vocal Contests, Drama, Football, Basketball, Track, CBH Academic Contests, Class Officers (9-10-12), National Honor Society, Yearbook, Top in Class- Psychology, Building Construction, Business Law

Brock Hinker is from Corsica, SD, located within Douglas Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

Klein Libby

Elizabeth Klein

March 30, 2025 - April 5, 2025

School
Brandon Valley High School (1-605-582-3211)
GPA
4
Activities
I have been Elizabeth’s counselor for the past four years admiring her intelligence, creativity, and commitment to service. She will not be the student that strives to get your attention or wants her name in lights, but she will be one of your hardest workers and most dedicated members. Elizabeth is mature, dependable, intelligent, and gracious. She has used her high school years wisely and is fully prepared for the next step in her future. Elizabeth’s academic record is pleasing. She has carried a 4.0 GPA while taking a rigorous course load. In addition to the 3 English honors classes throughout her years here, Elizabeth will have earned a minimum of 16 college credits through Nothern State University by the time she graduates. She is also currently taking AP Chemistry and Spanish IV both having the potential to earn her more college credit. She excels academically while remaining grounded. Within this balance she has also been involved in powerlifting, track and field, SALSA, Student Council, Orchestra, environmental club, and the Lynx Lookout (school newspaper). Her leadership has spread among all areas in our building. She was even chosen as Cello section leader in orchestra where she was able to show her true leadership potential. Just as important as school involvement, Elizabeth has also volunteered and worked within our community. She has volunteered at the Humane Society and Sioux Falls Butterfly house and aquarium. She also started her own online home bakery in addition to offering private piano lessons. She has also worked for the Cliff Avenue Greenhouse since April 2023. Her talents are uniquely varied and equally impressive. I believe she has used high school as a stepping stone for bigger and better things in her future. I guarantee if you have not yet met her, you will be impressed.

Elizabeth Klein is from Sioux Falls, SD, located within Sioux Valley Energy, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

Ava

Ava Gunderson

March 23, 2025 - March 29, 2025

School
Estelline School District (6058732201)
GPA
4
Activities
High Honor Roll, National Honor Society, National Honor Society Vice President, One-Act Play, Track and Field

Ava Gunderson is from Estelline, SD, located within H-D Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

Hannah DDN

HANNAH HEIMAN

March 16, 2025 - March 22, 2025

School
Clark School District (605 532-3605)
GPA
4.08
Activities
ACTIVITIES Volleyball National Honor Society Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) Students Against Destructive Decisions(SADD) Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Student Council Softball Youth group Tri-M Music Society ACCOMPLISHMENTS SD FCCLA President Region IV FCCLA President FCCLA Chapter President Girls State Governor All State Choir member Junior Snow Queen runner-up Chorus Directors Award National FCCLA 2nd place Parli Pro

HANNAH HEIMAN is from Clark, SD, located within Codington-Clark Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

Hannah DDN

Hannah Heiman

March 16, 2025 - March 22, 2025

School
Clark School District (605532-3605)
GPA
4.08
Activities
ACTIVITIES Volleyball Softball Tri-M Music Society Family, Career, Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) Students Against Destructive Behavior (SADD) National Honor Society (NHS) Student Council Youth Group Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) ACCOMPLISHMENTS State FCCLA President SD Girls State Governor Junior Snow Queen runner-up FCCLA Region President FCCLA Chapter President NHS President All State Choir FCCLA 2nd Place National Parli Procedure winner Volleyball Most Improved and Most Valuable Player Academic All-State Award Director's Award (Choir)

Hannah Heiman is from Clark, SD, located within Codington-Clark Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

Blaize

Blaize Larson

March 9, 2025 - March 15, 2025

School
Webster Area High School (6053453548)
GPA
4.1
Activities
Blaize is involved in Oral Interp, FCCLA, Robotics, Wrestling Stat, National Honor Society and Student Council. He has been a 3 time State Oral Interp participant and 1 time Medal Winner. He is FCCLA chapter president, has won state and national competitions, and been a officer on a state outreach team. He is Robotics Head this year and has been notebook head and made it to Robotics Nationals 3 times with his team. He is the senior class president. He also was a foreign exchange student 2024 Spring semester from January 10 until June 24, he lived in Malansac, France with a host family.

Blaize Larson is from Webster, SD, located within Lake Region Electric Association, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

7121

Max Schuelke

March 2, 2025 - March 8, 2025

School
Milbank High School (605-432-5546)
GPA
4.1
Activities
Activities & Acheivements Debate Participated: 9, 10, 11, 12 LD Coach and Captian Awards - LD Debate State Champion | 11th - LD Debate Runner-up | 10th - National Extemp Debate 32/900 finish | 11th - Extemp State Finalist | 9th, 10th, 11th - Attended Nationals | 10th, 11th - Fine Arts Student of the Month | 9th HOSA Participated: 11, 12 Awards - Biomedical Debate State Champion | 11th - Attended Nationals | 11th Educators Rising Participated: 11th, 12th Founding Member, State Officer Awards - Creative Lecture State Champion | 11th - Creative Lecture National Champion | 11th Theatre Participated: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th Head of Costumes, Sound, Lights, Various Roles Awards - Fine Arts Student of the Month | 10th Student Council Particpiated: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th Class Rep, Vice President, State Secretary Sunday School Participated: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th Sunday School Teacher NSU Math Competition Participated: 9th, 10th, 11th Awards - Honorable Mention | 10th & 11th

Max Schuelke is from Revillo, SD, located within Whetstone Valley Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.