Winners

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.

Jordyne Schultz

October 5, 2014 - October 11, 2014

School: Agar-Blunt-Onida
GPA: 4
Activities: 4 years - Volleyball 4 years - Golf 4 Years - Class President 4 years - Chorus 1 year - Basketball 1 year - FCCLA 3 years - Yearbook Staff American Legion Auxiliary - Youth Member

Jordyne Schultz is from Blunt, SD, located within Oahe Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

Hope Knedler

September 28, 2014 - October 4, 2014

School: Vermillion
GPA: 3.9
Activities: One-Act Play, Fall and Spring Play, Drum Major for High School Band, Gymnastics, Jazz Band, Show Band, All-State Band,

Hope Knedler is from Vermillion, SD, located within Clay-Union Electric Corporation, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

Maria Corio

September 21, 2014 - September 27, 2014

School: Elk Point-Jefferson High School
GPA: 4
Activities: Basketball (4 years), Volleyball (3 years), Track (1 year), Student Council (2 years), Student Body Vice-President (1 year), Student Body President (1 year), Natural Helpers (4 years), Newspaper Journalist (3 years), State Science Fair (3 years), Annual Talent Show (4 years), Vocal (2 year), CCD (4 years), Summer Camps (4 years), Homecoming Royalty (3 years), National Honors Society (2 years), Church Band (4 years), Church Server (4 years), Concessions (4 years), Friends? Feast (4 years), Food Drive (4 years), Fish Fries (4 years), Mentor Program (2 years), Bullying Prevention and Tobacco Awareness Presentations (4 years), Freshman Orientation (1 year), Annual Haunted House Fundraiser (2 years), Edgar?s Basketball Tournament (3 years), Salt Drive (3 years)

Maria Corio is from Elk Point, SD, located within Union County Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

Darbi Gustafson

September 14, 2014 - September 20, 2014

School: Ethan High School
GPA: 3.93
Activities: Darbi is actively involved in volleyball, basketball, track, band, chorus, Oral Interpretation, and National Honor Society. She is a model student and role model for all students in our school.

Darbi Gustafson is from Ethan, SD, located within Central Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

Sadie Schoenfelder

September 7, 2014 - September 13, 2014

School: Parkston
GPA: 4
Activities: Volleyball, Basketball, Band, FCA, Senior Class President, FCCLA, National Honor Society

Sadie Schoenfelder is from DIMOCK,, SD, located within Southeastern Electric Coop, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

Hope Menning

August 31, 2014 - September 6, 2014

School: Corsica
GPA: 4.08
Activities: Band, Football Statistician, Basketball, Volleyball, Golf, Yearbook, Dram, Oral Interpretation, Class Officer, FCCLA, Track, CBH Conference Academic Participant

Hope Menning is from Corsica, SD, located within Douglas Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

Rachel Goetz

April 27, 2014 - May 3, 2014

School: Washington High School
GPA: 4.157
Activities: Senior Class Co-chair, Student Council, Renaissance Committee, Warriors Read Together, Green Club, Spanish Club, Salsa, Link Crew, Ambassador, Freshman Tutor, PTSA-student member, WHS Polar Plunge , Warrior Club, WHS Track, WHS Soccer, Club Soccer, Girls Scouts, WHS Girls State Delegate, National Honor Society, WHS Service Club Member, Homecoming Candidate

Rachel Goetz is from Sioux Falls, SD, located within Sioux Valley Energy, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

Mason Wenzel

April 20, 2014 - April 26, 2014

School: Mitchell senior high
GPA: 3.2
Activities: State student council president, FBLA, HOSA, science fair, debate

Mason Wenzel is from Mitchell, SD, located within Central Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

Lydia Blume

April 13, 2014 - April 19, 2014

School: Redfield High School
GPA: 4.175
Activities: Service Learning Sept. 2013 - To Present Redfield Public School Student Volunteer Redfield, South Dakota » Each Wednesday, I spend my afternoon helping out in a Kindergarten classroom. Aug. 2013 - To Present St. Bernard's Catholic Church Religious Ed Teacher Redfield, South Dakota » On Wednesdays after school, I volunteer at St. Bernard's Church as a Religious Ed Teacher for 5th graders. July 2010 - To Present Relay For Life Committee Volunteer Redfield, South Dakota » I am a member of Spink County Relay For Life. Each summer we host the annual walking event where I volunteer to fill luminaries and work concession stands. Nov. 2013 - Nov. 2013 Redfield High School National Honor Society Member Volunteer Redfield, South Dakota » As a Redfield NHS member, I helped out with our NHS food drive to collect non-perishable items for our local food pantry. Oct. 2013 - Oct. 2013 Redfield High School National Honor Society Member Volunteer Redfield, South Dakota » On Halloween, NHS members took the first, second, and third grade students trick or treating at the local nursing homes. Oct. 2013 - Oct. 2013 St. Bernard's Catholic Church Cook Redfield, South Dakota » Each year, my church has a fall supper. This year, I worked in the kitchen helping prepare the food that was served. Sept. 2013 - Sept. 2013 Redfield High School Student Volunteer Redfield, South Dakota » During the annual homecoming week, we students volunteer our time to clean up the community on Pride Day. Sept. 2012 - Sept. 2012 Redfield High School Student Volunteer Redfield, South Dakota » Built float for community parade. Sept. 2011 - Sept. 2011 Redfield High School Student Volunteer Redfield, South Dakota » Built float for community parade. June 2011 - June 2011 St. Bernard's Catholic Church Student Volunteer Redfield, South Dakota » I volunteered at my church helping out at the children's Bible summer camp. Feb. 2011 - Feb. 2011 FCCLA Student Volunteer Sioux Falls, South Dakota » I worked as a student volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House in Sioux Falls with my FCCLA chapter. Sept. 2010 - Sept. 2010 Redfield High School Student Volunteer Redfield, South Dakota » Painted benches and bleachers at the Redfield Fair Grounds for Pride Day Awards & Certificates » Student of the Month (Oct. 2012) » First Place at State Competition Cheer (Oct. 2012) » Student of the Week (Sept. 2012) » National FCCLA gold ranking (July 2012) » State FCCLA winner (Apr. 2012) » Student of the Month (Apr. 2012) » Student of the Week (Mar. 2012) » Cecchetti III Ballet (Dec. 2011) » First Place at State Competition Cheer (Nov. 2011) » Student of the Week (Sept. 2011) » National FCCLA gold ranking (July 2011) » State FCCLA winner (Apr. 2011) » CPR and First Aid (Mar. 2011) » 4.0 Honor Roll (Aug. 2010-present) » Student of the Month (Jan. 2010) » Cecchetti I Ballet (Feb. 2009) » Cecchetti II Ballet (Feb. 2009) Extracurricular Activities National Honor Society, Pep Club, Sideline Cheerleading, Dance Club, FCCLA, Competition Cheerleading, Relay for Life Hobbies & Interests » Cooking » Dance » Scrapbooks » Volunteerism » Religion » Travel » Camping » Caring for Pets » Cheerleading » Lifeguarding Skills & Abilities » Able to multitask » Committed » Creative » Good communicator » High energy » Organized » People person » Self-motivated » Team player

Lydia Blume is from Redfield, SD, located within Northern Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

Derrick Podoll

April 6, 2014 - April 12, 2014

School: Frederick Area School
GPA: 4.94
Activities: Football Basketball 4-H Church

Derrick Podoll is from Aberdeen, SD, located within Northern Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.