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.
Nevaeh Starr
November 13, 2021 - November 19, 2021
- School
- T.F. Riggs (6057737354)
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- FBLA, T.F. Riggs Newspaper lead editor, National Honor Society President, Stem Savvy Chapter; 2017 Citizenship Award, 2018 Principal's Education Award, 2018 History Student of the Year, 2018 South Dakota National History Day Research Paper place holder
Nevaeh Starr is from Pierre, SD, located within Oahe Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Reese Powers
November 6, 2021 - November 12, 2021
- School
- Avon High School (605-286-3291)
- GPA
- 3.64
- Activities
- Choir; Cheerleading; Cross Country; Volleyball; Basketball; Track; Archery; Fellowship of Christian Athletes; A Club; Drama; Oral Interp; School Newspaper and Yearbook staff; Junior Legion Auxillary; 9th -10 grade Student Council representative; Nominated for Congress of Medical Leaders; taking dual credit courses
Reese Powers is from Avon, SD, located within Charles Mix Electric Association, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Rosie Calamanco
October 30, 2021 - November 5, 2021
- School
- Elk Point-Jefferson (605-356-5900)
- GPA
- 3.88
- Activities
- Activities Include: -Cross country -Band -Newspaper -Track and Field -Some basketball -Student council in middle school Accomplishments Include: -Lettering in band -Lettering in cross country -Winning spelling bee awards - Winning the presidential award -Medaling in cross country and track and field -Lettering because of good grades -Receiving a plaque for "best attitude" in cross country
Rosie Calamanco is from Sioux City, IA, located within Union County Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Samuel Kampshoff
October 23, 2021 - October 29, 2021
- School
- Yankton High School (605-665-7378)
- GPA
- 4.1
- Activities
- Football, Baseball, Band, National Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Samuel Kampshoff is from Yankton, SD, located within Bon Homme-Yankton Electric Assn., a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Zoey Wohlleber
October 16, 2021 - October 22, 2021
- School
- Summit (605-398-6211)
- GPA
- 3.65
- Activities
- Basketball - 2 time all state, ECC MVP, 4 years All Conference Volleyball 1 year track Hope Lutheran Youth Group Band 1 year Student Council Top Rated Senior Student (GPA)
Zoey Wohlleber is from South Shore, SD, located within Whetstone Valley Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Connor Bauer
October 9, 2021 - October 15, 2021
- School
- Webster Area High School (6053453548)
- GPA
- 3.77
- Activities
- Connor participates in cross country and basketball. He is in National Honor Society and Robotics. He has been on the honor roll every semester of his high school career. He also is active in band.
Connor Bauer is from Webster, SD, located within Lake Region Electric Association, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Reagan Even
October 2, 2021 - October 8, 2021
- School
- Watertown High School (605-882-6316)
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Dual-Credit Courses: Fundamentals of Speech, General Psychology, College Algebra Student Council Representative
Reagan Even is from Watertown, SD, located within Codington-Clark Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Hallie Kueter
September 25, 2021 - October 1, 2021
- School
- Montrose School (605-363-5025)
- GPA
- 4.25
- Activities
- Activities Volleyball (4yrs) FFA (4yrs) Student Council (3yrs) National Honor Society (3yrs) One Act Play (4yrs) Oral Interp (4 yrs) bowling (1 yr) basketball (1 yr) basketball stats (1yr) band (3 yrs) Leadership Roles; FFA Chapter Reporter, FFA Chapter Secretary(2yrs) FFA Chapter President, FFA District 7 President(2yrs)Student Council Representative, Student Council Treasurer, Student Council Vice President Volunteer; Bible School Helper, Altar Server, Student Tutor Job Nursing Home CNA
Hallie Kueter is from Montrose, SD, located within Southeastern Electric Coop, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Katherine Wegner
September 18, 2021 - September 24, 2021
- School
- Estelline School District (6058732201)
- GPA
- 3.73
- Activities
- Student Council 9, 10, 11, 12 Student Council President 11, 12 Student Council Region Vice President 10 Senior Class Co-President National Honor Society 10,11,12 Girls State Volleyball 9,10,11,12 Basketball 9, 10, 11,12 Basketball All Conference 11 Track 9, 10, 11, 12 Lifeguard HOBY 10
Katherine Wegner is from Estelline, SD, located within H-D Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Alivia Spilde
September 11, 2021 - September 17, 2021
- School
- Oldham-Ramona (605-482-8244)
- GPA
- 3.56
- Activities
- National Honor Society, Student Council, Band, Oral Interp, Vollleyball, Basketball, Luther League, Softball, Coached 8U Softball for Oldham-Ramona team, Girls State 2021, Junior Auxiliary Member, Citizenship Award, and Perfect Attendance Award. Dual Credit classes taken include Fundamentals of Speech, Composition, and Computer Software with more to come in the spring.
Alivia Spilde is from Ramona, SD, located within Sioux Valley Energy, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.