Winners

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.

September 22, 2019 - September 28, 2019

School

Corsica-Stickney (6059465475)

GPA

4.11

Activities

Volleyball- 6 years- 1 year letterwinner, football cheerleader- 2 years and 2 year letter winner, basketball cheerleader-1 year and 1 year letter winner, track and field- 4 years and letterwinner for four years, choir- 6 years and lettered 2 years, band-6 years and lettered 2 years, student council treasurer and secretary- 3 years, All-school play-3 years, Oral Interpretation- 1 year, National Honor Society-3 years and currently the secretary, Family Career and Community Leader- 4 years- gold every year at the state convention and two top superiors, Youth group with her church for 7 years, all-state choir participant for one year and an alternate for all-state choir for one year, and participant in the Augustana University band festival for two years.

Sierra Heidinger is from Plankinton, SD, located within Central Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

September 15, 2019 - September 21, 2019

School

Madison High School (605-256-7706)

GPA

4.05

Activities

Activities - FFA, Student Council, School Newspaper, Student Congress, Debate, FCA, Basketball, Volleyball, Pentagon Volleyball, Souled Out, National Honor Socienty, FBLA, Youth Group Accomplishments - Began the 1st ever FCA at Madison High School, Study Body President, Student Council Secretary, FFA Chapter Vice President and former Chapter Treasurer/Secretary, 2018-2019 Varsity Basketball Captain, School Newspaper Editor, FCA Chairmen, Senior Ambassador, NHS Secretary, 2015-2016 Student of the year, 2017 and 2018 Regional FFA Extemporaneous Speaking Champion, Hugh O'Brien Youth Conference Nominee, 2019 Girls State Delegate, Local VFW Voice of Democracy winner, "Future 50" nominee for volleyball, Church Youth Group Ambassador, Tutor

Grace Nelson is from Madison, SD, located within Sioux Valley Energy, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

September 8, 2019 - September 14, 2019

School

Tea Area High School (6054982700)

GPA

4.03

Activities

I participate in Tri M, TATU, NHS, and jazz band. I am also the secretary for our school's HOSA chapter. I have made it into South Dakota All State Band the last three years and South Dakota All State Orchestra last year. I have also been in many other honor bands throughout the years.

Jaqualyn DeYoung is from Tea, SD, located within Southeastern Electric Coop, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.