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.
Alana Howard
November 27, 2021 - December 3, 2021
- School
- Miller High School (605-853-2455)
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- FFA- District Secretary, Chapter President; August 2016-September 2025 Cross Country- Team Captain; August 2015-October 2021 BEST Robotics- Exhibit Manager; September 2016-October 2021 One Act Play- Actress; November 2019- February 2022 Track- Team Captain; February 2016- May 2022 Band- Drum Major, instrumentalist; August 2014- May 2022 Jazz Band- instrumentalist; November 2016-March 2022 Oral Interpretation- competitor; August 2020-November 2021 Fellowship of Christian Athletes- participant; August 2021-May 2022 Class Officer- President; August 2018-May 2022 4-H- Club Reporter; October 2012- October 2023 CCD- member; September 2009- May 2022 Presbyterian Youth Group- member; February 2020- May 2022 Historical Society Board of Directors; Student Member; August 2018- May 2022 Community Play- actress; August 2021- November 2021
Alana Howard is from Miller, SD, located within Dakota Energy Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Dilyn Brooks
November 20, 2021 - November 26, 2021
- School
- Woonsocket High School (605-796-4431)
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- -Co-President of Town-N-Country Kids 4-H Group -Participated in Nationals for Shooting Sports with multiple awards and records. -Vice President of Sanborn Central-Woonsocket FFA Chapter -Volunteers Feeding the Homeless -Member of National Honor Society -President of Woonsocket Student Council -Member of All-State Chorus -Member of Youth Group with Spirit of Faith Church with number of volunteer projects that includes: feeding South Dakota, writing cards for elderly, helper vacation bible school. -Works with Sand Creek Vet Clinic -Narrative- Dilyn is an exceptional student and leader who would certainly be a deserving recipient of this award. Thank you for your consideration.
Dilyn Brooks is from Woonsocket, SD, located within Central Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
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 Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.