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.
Alexandra DeGroot
October 18, 2015 - October 24, 2015
- School
- Sioux Valley High School
- GPA
- 3.97
- Activities
- Alexandria DeGroot Student Council all four years Enrolled in college courses for the past two year
Alexandra DeGroot is from Volga, SD, located within Sioux Valley Energy, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Allison Bich
October 11, 2015 - October 17, 2015
- School
- Iroquois High School
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- band, chorus, volleyball, basketball, Honor Roll, National Honor Society, Student Council President, Iroquois Peer Assistant Team, Annual Staff.
Allison Bich is from Cavour, SD, located within Dakota Energy Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Madalyne Schuldt
October 4, 2015 - October 10, 2015
- School
- Elk Point-Jefferson High School
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Leadership: Volleyball Manager- 1 year St. Peter?s Daycare and Preschool-3 years Ollie?s Drive Inn-1 year St. Paul Lutheran Church Youth Representative-3 years Backstage Manager for School Play-1 year Volunteering: Food Pantry- 1 year Serving Lent Soup Suppers- 4 years Serving a Lutefisk Dinner-4 years Preparing the Sioux City Santa House- 1 year Working Friends? Feast- 3 years Salt Drive- 1 year Edgars? Basketball Tournament- 2 years Concessions- 4 years Activities: Volleyball- 4 years Track- 1 year Vocal- 1 year State Science Fair- 4 years Acceleration- 1 year School Play- 2 years Yearbook- 2 years Tutoring- 4 years Mentoring- 1 year Church Youth Group- 4 years Team Volleyball Camps- 4 years Dance at 5678! Dance Studio- 1 year EPJ Dance Team- 1 year Girls? State Representative from Union County(11th Grade) Union County Electric Cooperative?s Youth Tour (11th Grade) Honors: Academic Letters- 4 years Vocal Letter-1 year ?A? Honor Roll- 4 years 3rd place in the Pharmaceutical division at State Science Fair (9th Grade) Intro to Vitro Award at State Science Fair (9th and 11th Grade) Pharmaceutical Award at State Science Fair (9th, 10th , and 11th Grade) SDSU Special Award at State Science Fair (10th Grade) 2nd place in the Pharmaceutical division at State Science Fair (11th Grade) Excellence Award at State Science Fair (11th Grade) 5th place in the Geometry Division at the USD Math Competition (10th Grade) 4th place in the Pre Calc Division at the USD Math Competition (11th Grade) 200 Hour Workout Club (Volleyball)- 3 years Alternative for Girls? Nation (11th Grade) Union County Electric Cooperative?s Youth Tour Representative(11th Grade)
Madalyne Schuldt is from Jefferson, SD, located within Union County Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Joe Miller
September 27, 2015 - October 3, 2015
- School
- Vermillion High School
- GPA
- 3.649
- Activities
- Soccer, Baseball, Debate, Student Council, Show Choir, Quiz Bowl, National Honor Society, Reading Club, Natural Helpers
Joe Miller is from VERMILLION, SD, located within Clay-Union Electric Corporation, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Sydney Gall
September 20, 2015 - September 26, 2015
- School
- Scotland High School
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Cross Country, Basketball, Track, National Honor Society, Student Council, Youth Business Adventure
Sydney Gall is from Lesterville, SD, located within Bon Homme-Yankton Electric Assn., a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Rebecca Burrows
September 13, 2015 - September 19, 2015
- School
- Tea Area High School
- GPA
- 4.023
- Activities
- FCCLA, TATU, NHS, Student Council, Quiz Bowl, Tri-M, band, Be the Change
Rebecca Burrows is from Tea, SD, located within Southeastern Electric Coop, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Josh Thurow
May 17, 2015 - May 23, 2015
- School
- Oldham-Ramona
- GPA
- 3.9
- Activities
- Basketball, Editor of Yearbook, National Honor Society, Class President, Statistician for football, SADD member
Josh Thurow is from Ramona, SD, located within Sioux Valley Energy, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Jensen Twite
May 10, 2015 - May 16, 2015
- School
- Tea Area High School
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Band, Theater, National Honor Society, Art
Jensen Twite is from Tea, SD, located within Southeastern Electric Coop, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Kendra Krosch
May 3, 2015 - May 9, 2015
- School
- Miller High School
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- FCCLA, FFA, Band, Chorus, Track, Student Council Representative, Class Officer, One Act Play, Oral Interpretation, Yearbook, Academic Challenge, Northern State Math Contest
Kendra Krosch is from Miller, SD, located within Dakota Energy Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Jayden Mikkonen
April 26, 2015 - May 2, 2015
- School
- Frederick Area School District
- GPA
- 3.64
- Activities
- Basketball, golf, choir, class officer, math team, volunteer elementary basketball coach, youth group
Jayden Mikkonen is from Frederick, SD, located within Northern Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.