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.
Cassandra Voigt
March 21, 2020 - March 27, 2020
- School
- Avon High School (606-286-3291)
- GPA
- 3.97
- Activities
- Choir (9-12), Girls' BB Stats (9-12), FB Stats (11-12), Academic All State (12), A-Club (9-12), Class President (9-11) Quiz Bowl(12), Homecoming Court, Science Fair (9-12) 9th grade,Mitchell Science Fair, ISEF Los Angeles- Student Observer, 10th grade- ISEF 2018 Pittsburgh- Student observer, 1st place Stockholm Junior water Prize- DWU, Science Fair 2nd place- Yale Science and engineering Award, DWU Mathematics award, Mu Alpha Theta Award, SD Society for clinical Lab. Research Award, DWU scholarship award, Honor Rolls (9-12), Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Drama, Volleyball(9-11)
Cassandra Voigt is from Avon, SD, located within Bon Homme-Yankton Electric Assn., a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Samuel Ward
March 14, 2020 - March 20, 2020
- School
- Vermillion High School (605-677-7033)
- GPA
- 3.97
- Activities
- Samuel was described by his teacher to be mature, intelligent, friendly, respectful, and motivated. He is a fantastic leader with a great sense of humor and a kind heart. He treats all his peers with respect and dignity. Samuel is active in high school sports (soccer and basketball). He is a member of student council, RAKE club, National Honor Society, and is a member of Vermillion Rhythm in Red Show Choir. He volunteers in our Peer Helper program with younger students in the district.
Samuel Ward is from Vermillion, SD, located within Clay-Union Electric Corporation, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Josh Lehman
March 7, 2020 - March 13, 2020
- School
- Elk Point-Jefferson (605-356-5900)
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Band, Jazz Band, Plays, Oral Interp, Newspaper, Football, Student Council. Josh has taken dual credit, accelerated and honors courses.
Josh Lehman is from Elk Point, SD, located within Union County Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Abby Vanden Berge
March 1, 2020 - March 7, 2020
- School
- Platte-Geddes High School ((605) 337-3391)
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Abby has been involved in the following activities: Academic Olympics, Band, Choir, Flag Corp, Girls' State, National Honor Society, School Plays, Volleyball, Youth Group, and has been Class Treasurer and Vice President. Abby has also been active in the community by working as a student leader for bible school, working with the Platte Chamber to help with roller skating, play in Platte, and kids shopping, helped with the church Christmas concert, is a student leader for Teens Encounter Christ, volunteers at the Lyric Theatre, and went on a mission trip to Mexico.
Abby Vanden Berge is from Platte, SD, located within Charles Mix Electric Association, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Grace Konechne
February 23, 2020 - February 29, 2020
- School
- White Lake High School (605-249-2251)
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Volleyball, grades 7-12, Co-captain and floor captain grade 12 Basketball- grades 7-12, Co-captain grades 11&12 Football Stats, 10-12 Class B SoDak 16 Champions, grade 11 Max Preps Player of the Week for Volleyball, grade 11 Volleyball Best Offensive Player, grade 11 Volleyball South Central Conference Honorable Mention, grade 11 Volleyball CBH Conference 2nd team, grade 11 Volleyball Best Offensive Player, grade 10 Volleyball SC Conference 1st team, grade 10 Volleyball CBH Conference 1st team, grade 10 Volleyball Most improved, grade 9 Volleyball Best Prospect, grade 8 Basketball CBH Conference 3rd team, grade 11 Basketball Most Improved, grade 10 Band- 5 letters, drum major Choir- 3 letters, All-State Chorus 4 years Student Council Secretary/Treasurer-12 Class Officer-grades 7, 9-11 Homecoming Queen Gold Honor Roll/4.0, grades 7-12 Academic Letter HOBY delegate National Merit Scholar Semi-Finalist Church organist/song leader, grades 5 to present Piano accompanist for choir and other kid’s solos- grades 5 to present Daily piano accompanist for chorus, grade 9
Grace Konechne is from White Lake, SD, located within Central Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Makala Lemburg
February 16, 2020 - February 22, 2020
- School
- Tracy Area HIgh School (507-629-5500)
- GPA
- 3.46
- Activities
- Cross Country 8-12(lettered 9, 11, captain11); Track 7-11 (let.8-11); Choir 9-11 (let.10); Band9-11 (let. 11); BBB varsity student manager; peer tutor 9; 9th class vice president; 9th student council; 10th class president; 11th & 12th student council president.
Makala Lemburg is from Marshall, MN, located within Lyon-Lincoln Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
John Bowar
February 9, 2020 - February 15, 2020
- School
- Faultkon HS (6055986266)
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Student Body President. Respected among his peers, staff,and underclassmen. Every teacher at Faulkton wants him on their class roster at the beginning of the school year. Involved in Football, Basketball, Band, Chorus (3 time All-State Selection), and Oral Interp (5 time State Superior). John is also an active member of St Thomas the Apostle Church in Faulkton.
John Bowar is from Faultkon, SD, located within FEM Electric Association, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Jaime O'Neill
February 2, 2020 - February 8, 2020
- School
- James Valley Christian School (605-352-7737)
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Student Body President, National Honor Society member, SD All-State Choir-2 years, SD Honors Choir-2 years, 2019 Choir President, High Honor Roll, oral interpretation-2 year state superior winner, one-act play-3 years state festival winner, JVC Student Ministries team member, lead a retreat for the student body, We Found Sound Show Choir, plays piano for local churches, member of a singing group Trinity Hill, Junior Piano Music Festival-3 gold cup winner, and volunteers at James River Church
Jaime O'Neill is from Huron, SD, located within Dakota Energy Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Dirby Bawek
January 26, 2020 - February 1, 2020
- School
- Doland School (6056356302)
- GPA
- 3.34
- Activities
- Dirby has been FFA president. He has been very big into FFA and has had many accomplishments in this area. He has also been in student council, band, and chorus.
Dirby Bawek is from Doland, SD, located within Northern Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Tate Gaikowski
January 19, 2020 - January 25, 2020
- School
- Waubay High School (605-947-4529)
- GPA
- 3.5
- Activities
- Tate is a great student and hardworking young man. Tate is always willing to lend a helping hand in and outside of the classroom. He is involved in football, basketball, track, student council, FFA, National Honor Society, SD High School Rodeo, 4-H Rodeo, and 4-H. Tate also volunteer refs for youth basketball in our area.
Tate Gaikowski is from Waubay, SD, located within Lake Region Electric Association, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.