Winners

December 1, 2019 - December 7, 2019

School

Gayville-Volin High School (6052674476)

GPA

3.77

Activities

School Activities and Awards: Students Against Destructive Decisions - GVHS Leadership Team (2018-2019); GVHS Varsity Letter Award (Spring 2019) School Theater Production - GVHS Rising Star Award (Spring 2018); GVHS Best Actress Award (Spring 2019) Oral Interpretation - GVHS Interper of the Year Award (Spring 2019); 1st Place in District Competition (2018-2019); 1st Place in Region Competition (2018-2019); Participant in State Competition (2018-2019) Band - GVHS Leadership Award (Spring 2019); GVHS Varsity Letter Award (2017-2018, 2018-2019); Augustana University Honor Band (November 2019), USD Honor Band (Spring 2019), SDSU Honor Band (January 2019), Yankton Honor Band (Fall 2018); Wayne State Honor Band (Fall 2018); Excellent Award for Solo at Small Group Contest at VHS (Spring 2019); Superior Award for Solo at Small Group Contest at VHS (Spring 2018); Excellent Award for Duet at Small Group Contest at VHS (Spring 2018) Marching Band Member at GVHS (2017-2018; 2018-2019) Props Team Member at BVHS (2016-2017) Marching Band Member at BVHS (2016-2017) Choir - GVHS Member (2017-2018, 2018-2019), Choir Librarian (2019-2020), Alto Leader (2019-2020) Choir - BVHS Member (2016-2017) Fellowship of Christian Athletes - BVHS Member (2016-2017), GVHS Member (2019-2020) Basketball - GVHS Team Member (2017-2018) Track & Field - GVHS Throw Team (2017-2018, 2018-2019) Cheerleading Manager - GVHS (2018-2019, 2019-2020) Basketball Manager - GVHS (2018-2019, 2019-2020) Community Activities: St. John's Lutheran Church (Yankton, SD) Youth Group Member (2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2019-2020) Blessed Redeemer Lutheran Church (Brandon, SD) Youth Group Member (2016-2017) National Youth Gathering Participant (2016-2017, 2018-2019) Leadership Experiences: SD Girls State Program at the University of South Dakota (Summer 2019) Work Experiences: Laborer/Construction Worker at 5DM (Brandon, SD) 2016-2017, 2017-2018 Cashier at Wal-mart (Vermillion, SD) Summer 2019 - present Academic Awards: High Honor Roll (2016-2017, 2017-2018,2018-2019)

Sydney Kuhnert is from Meckling, SD, located within Clay-Union Electric Corporation, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

November 24, 2019 - November 30, 2019

School

Corsica-Stickney School District (6059465475)

GPA

4.25

Activities

Volleyball- 6 year participant, track and field- 3 year participant and letterwinner for three years, basketball- 2 years, Family Career and Community Leaders of Americas- 4 year member, four year state participant, two golds and one silver at the state convention, National Honor society- three year participant and currently the historian, student council- 6 year member and current vice-president for class, yearbook-4 years, band- 6 year participant, choir-4 years and all-state choir one year

Ashlin DeBoer is from Corsica, SD, located within Douglas Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

November 17, 2019 - November 23, 2019

School

Hitchcock-Tulare High School (6055964171)

GPA

3.5

Activities

Student Body President, FFA Chapter President, Student Council Representative, Varsity Football Team Captain, Varsity Basketball

Titus Waldner is from Huron, SD, located within Dakota Energy Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

November 10, 2019 - November 16, 2019

School

Leola School District (605-439-3142)

GPA

3.67

Activities

Zach has been an active in various school and community activities throughout high school. He has been able to prioritize academic accomplishments and success while being engaged in these various activities. Zach strives to grow as a student as he plans to further his education following high school at SDSU with his focus in sports medicine. Zach participated in a service learning project last year where he assisted the school’s physical education teacher in teaching physical education to the elementary students grades K-5. He was selected to represent Leola at the Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership seminar and represented the Leola Legion Post at SD Boys’ State. Zach has received a letter for his participation in football, basketball, and track every year in high school. He displays leadership qualities to his younger teammates on and off the field/court. He has been a member of the school’s Peer Helpers which has provided educational discussions for elementary students and planned high school events. He has been a letter recipient in band, choir and show choir since the 8th grade. Zach has received multiple awards for his participation in choral and band ensembles. He has been a member of the schools FBLA chapter, holding the office of Historian for one year, and participates in their Spring Leadership Conference. Zach has been an active member of the school student body government every year in high school holding different offices. This year Zach is the Vice President of STUCO. Outside of school, he is employed by the city as a lifeguard for the last three summers. Zach is a bell ringer and acolyte for St. Paul Lutheran and has volunteered for six years to assist during the community’s vacation Bible school program. He has been a member of 4-H shooting sports and the State 4-H Performing Arts Corp. He volunteers his services during the city wide auction and community play as a concession stand worker.

Zachary Mueller is from Leola, SD, located within FEM Electric Association, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

November 3, 2019 - November 9, 2019

School

Aberdeen Central (605-725-8100)

GPA

4.32

Activities

South Dakota Girls State, National Qualifier Speech and Debate (30th in nation), President LGBTQ Club, Officer Model UN, Northern State Regional Science Bowl Winner, Bausch and Lomb Outstanding Science Student, Language Arts Outstanding nonfiction award, National Honor Society

Lauren Rhodes is from Aberdeen, SD, located within Northern Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

October 27, 2019 - November 2, 2019

School

Milbank School (6054325546)

GPA

4.1

Activities

Tracy is a member of the Milbank National Honor Society; Tracy is in volleyball, girls basketball, track. Tracy is also a member of the Milbank High School Band and Chorus. Tracy is a member of the Grant County 4-H program; and St Lawrence Youth Group.

Tracy Pillatzki is from CORONA, SD, located within Whetstone Valley Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

October 20, 2019 - October 26, 2019

School

Waverly-South Shore (605-886-9174)

GPA

4.08

Activities

Student Council President, Region Student Council Vice President, National Honor Society Member, Band member, Choir Member, Represents WSS at All-State Choir, Lettered in Football, Lettered in Basketball (won Hustle award twice), Lettered in Track, Lettered in Theater (won best actor twice and best supporting actor once) member of a National History Day National Team (represented WSS in Washinton DC), Represents WSS at several math competitions (member of 2 teams that won team titles and placed individually in 3 competitions) Member of local 4-H, Member of local church Youth Group, Volunteers for activities at the local Domestic Violence Center and Humane Society

Owen Comes is from Watertown, SD, located within Codington-Clark Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

October 13, 2019 - October 19, 2019

School

Hamlin High School (605-783-3644)

GPA

4.03

Activities

SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), Book Club, Family Career and Community Leaders of America, recognized as Student of the Month in 9th grade, Skills USA - 1st place at State, National Honor Society. Haley is ranked 2 of 48 students in her senior class. She has already taken four dual credit courses, and is currently in two this semester. She has taken Health Science CTE courses and will complete Health Science 2 in the Spring where she will also earn Medical Terminology credits through LATI. She plans to attend LATI for Nursing next fall and will begin her college career with a strong base. We, at Hamlin, feel Haley is well deserving of this award.

Haley Pedersen is from Hayti, SD, located within H-D Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

October 6, 2019 - October 12, 2019

School

Scotland (6055832237)

GPA

4

Activities

Football, Golf, National Honor Society, FFA, Boys State, Youth Business Adventure, Gifted Program, Bausch & Lomb Science Award, #1 in the senior class for GPA.

Derek Pravecek is from Scotland, SD, located within Bon Homme-Yankton Electric Assn., a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

September 29, 2019 - October 5, 2019

School

Wagner High School (605-384-5426)

GPA

4

Activities

National Honor Society Volleyball Academic Letter Winner Wrestling Statistician FFA GOLF Volleyball Letterwinner Student Council FCA member Mentoring 4H

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