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.
Kim Weber
September 2, 2018 - September 8, 2018
- School
- Parkston High School (6059283368)
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Band, Choir, National Honor Society, Volleyball, Outstanding Freshman Science Student, Outstanding First Year Choir Member, Perfect Attendance, All State Chorus, Outstanding Sophomore Science Student Girls State, FCA
Kim Weber is from Parkston, SD, located within Southeastern Electric Coop, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Gracelyn Fast
May 6, 2018 - May 12, 2018
- School
- James Valley Christian School
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Student Body President Student Council Cheerleading Captain Band-letter winner Yearbook team member Cross Country Team Manager Plays piano for church praise team JVC Student Ministries Active in church youth group tutoring elementary students
Gracelyn Fast is from Iroquois, SD, located within Dakota Energy Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Lincoln Turman
April 29, 2018 - May 5, 2018
- School
- T.F. Riggs High School
- GPA
- 3.9
- Activities
- NHS, Cross Country, Wrestling, Student Senate, NHS, Student Body Vice President
Lincoln Turman is from Pierre, SD, located within Oahe Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Sadie Vander Wal
April 22, 2018 - April 28, 2018
- School
- Northwestern High School
- GPA
- 4.067
- Activities
- Cheerleading, FFA, Oral Interp, Drama Club, FBLA
Sadie Vander Wal is from Brentford, SD, located within Northern Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Jett Skrien
April 15, 2018 - April 21, 2018
- School
- Marshall High School
- GPA
- 4.21
- Activities
- Jett has participated in marching band, BPA (business professionals of America) and Link Crew (9th grade and new student mentor program). Jeff also has his own successful business performing magic
Jett Skrien is from Marshall, MN, located within Lyon-Lincoln Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Elsie Aslesen
April 8, 2018 - April 14, 2018
- School
- Elk Point-Jefferson
- GPA
- 3.94
- Activities
- I have been involved in basketball through both my school and AAU team, track and field, National Honors Society, Student Council, Natural Helpers, and Freshman Mentors. I have also been involved in band, vocal, and volleyball throughout the course of my high school career. I have also taken many dual credit classes and will finish my high school career with twenty-three college credits. I have taken US History, Film Appreciation, and Speech 101, and I am currently taking AP Biology and Composition 1. Next semester, I plan on continuing AP Biology and taking dual credit Literature.
Elsie Aslesen is from Elk Point, SD, located within Union County Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Alexander Palecek
April 1, 2018 - April 7, 2018
- School
- Yankton High School
- GPA
- 4.1
- Activities
- Science Olympiad, Math Team, National Honor Society, Student Council, Youth Group, Conference Council on Youth Ministries: Dakotas, Boy Scouts, Recycling Club, Choir, Debate
Alexander Palecek is from Yankton, SD, located within Clay-Union Electric Corporation, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Kalista Vanden Berge
March 25, 2018 - March 31, 2018
- School
- Platte-Geddes School District
- GPA
- 3.97
- Activities
- Kali has been active in many school activities while maintaining a 3.97 GPA. She has been involved in basketball for 1 year, track, competitive cheer and dance, cheerleading, oral interpretation, choir, band, drama, and academic olympics for four years. In her limited spare time she has managed to attend a Governor's Luncheon, Girls State, and hold down a job working anywhere from 10-30 hours a week. She has also managed to take a dual credit course this year.
Kalista Vanden Berge is from Platte, SD, located within Charles Mix Electric Association, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Hannah Van Gerpen
March 18, 2018 - March 24, 2018
- School
- Avon High School
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- volleyball - Sr. captain, most improved and most inspirational awards; cheer - captain for 3 years, most spirited, All-American; track - most improved; basketball stat; FCA; FOR Club; Choir; Drama club; Oral Interp; Science Fair participant and award winner; Quiz Bowl; Class officer; A Club; 2017 155th Military Ball Queen; Presidential Academic Achievement Award; Cheer Camp leader; Volleyball Camp leader; Youth Group member participating in service projects; VBS leader; church camp counselor; volunteer for deployed military families;
Hannah Van Gerpen is from Avon, SD, located within Bon Homme-Yankton Electric Assn., a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Harlee Mitchell
March 11, 2018 - March 17, 2018
- School
- Henry High School
- GPA
- 3.97
- Activities
- -Basketball -Volleyball -Track and Field -Band -President of Student Council -National Honor Society -HOBY
Harlee Mitchell is from Henry, SD, located within Codington-Clark Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.