Winners

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.