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.
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.
Rachel Blue
January 12, 2020 - January 18, 2020
- School
- Henry School (605-532-5364)
- GPA
- 4.05
- Activities
- Gymnastics (including being on the 2 time state champ team from Deuel-Henry and a top 5 individual finisher both years), Cross Country, Track, Band, Chorus, 4-H, Student Council (student body president both junior and senior years), National Honor Society, Oral Interp, School Play
Rachel Blue is from Henry, SD, located within Codington-Clark Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Kayli Schaap
January 5, 2020 - January 11, 2020
- School
- Beresford High School ((605) 763-2145)
- GPA
- 4.12
- Activities
- Student Activities: Track - 2 years Cross Country - 2 years Volleyball - 2 years National Honor Society - 2 years Fellowship of Christian Athletes - 4 years FCCLA - 4 years HOSA (Health Occupations for Students of America (HOSA) - 3 years Spanish Club - 3 years Band - 4 years Youth Group - 4 years COYF - Community for Youth and Family Outreach - 4 years Meals on Wheels - 4 years SOS (Students Serving our Seniors) - 4 years SWAT (Students Working Against Tobacco) - 2 years Students Accomplishments include: Gold Honor Roll all four years President's Award for Educational Excellence BHS Governor's Luncheon Representative 3rd place at State Art Competition
Kayli Schaap is from Beresford, SD, located within Southeastern Electric Coop, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Reyna Beck
December 15, 2019 - December 21, 2019
- School
- De Smet School District ((605)854-3423)
- GPA
- 3.99
- Activities
- Reyna is involved in Cross Country, Track, Volleyball, & Basketball. She also helps take stats for our football team. She partakes in Band, Chorus, FCCLA, and she is a member of our Student Council.
Reyna Beck is from De Smet, SD, located within Kingsbury Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Emily Nold
December 8, 2019 - December 14, 2019
- School
- Rutland School District (605-586-4352)
- GPA
- 3.92
- Activities
- Cross Country, Basketball (Team Captain), Rutland Student Council VP (18-19), Rutland Student Council President (19-20), National Honor Society Member, Sioux Valley EmPOWER youth board member, Rutland FFA VP (17-18) and President (18-present), North View Lads and Lassies 4H Club Reporter (19-20). Earned/qualified for trips in 4H National Shooting Sports, the 4H Citizen Washington Focus, State FFA Prepared Public Speaking, National FFA Land Judging Competition, National History Day National Competition (Washington D.C.). Emily has been a 2 time gold medal state livestock evaluator, was the FFA State Round Robin Showman winner (2018), was the 4H Round Robin Showmanship winner (2019), was a representative of the SD Livestock Evaluation at American Royal, was the SD Showmanship Showdown winner, earned 3rd place as All American Junior Show evaluator, has received multiple state sheep showmanship awards, multiple winnings at the state 4H horse show, received the 4H record book award.
Emily Nold is from Brookings, SD, located within Sioux Valley Energy, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.