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.
Tory Makela
January 19, 2014 - January 25, 2014
- School
- Ipswich School
- GPA
- 4.239
- Activities
- Activities: Cross Country, Track, Football Stats, Cheerleading, Vocal, Dance, All School Play, FBLA, NHS President Community Service: Teach dance, teach elementary Sunday School, play piano for church, Tiger Paw Tutoring for K-12
Tory Makela is from Ipswich, SD, located within FEM Electric Association, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Noah Brown
January 5, 2014 - January 11, 2014
- School
- Baltic High School
- GPA
- 3.85
- Activities
- Cross Country, Golf, Oral Interp, Band, FCCLA, FFA, Quiz Bowl, National Honor Society, Homework Club Mentor, FCA, Student Council Representative, Reformed Church Youth Fellowship, Volunteer for PTO, Teens Encounter Christ, Be the Change Committee, Drum Major in Marching Band, One Act Play,
Noah Brown is from Garretson, SD, located within Sioux Valley Energy, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Taylor Homann
December 29, 2013 - January 4, 2014
- School
- Pipestone Area High School
- GPA
- 3.952
- Activities
- Marching Band,FFA, Peer Helper, President of Student Council, NHS, One Act, Speech, Listening Team, Jazz Band, Knowledge Bowl
Taylor Homann is from Pipestone, MN, located within Sioux Valley Energy, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Kayla Breske
December 22, 2013 - December 28, 2013
- School
- Waubay School
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Basketball, Volleyball, Track, National Honor Society, Senior Class President, Oral Interpretation, School Play, Our Savior's (Waubay) Youth Group Member.
Kayla Breske is from Waubay, SD, located within Lake Region Electric Association, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Mikayla Bonnet
December 15, 2013 - December 21, 2013
- School
- Langford Area High School
- GPA
- 3.973
- Activities
- Volleyball, Girls Basketball, Boys Basketball & Football Cheerleading, Yearbook, Pep Club, Oral Interpretation
Mikayla Bonnet is from Pierpont, SD, located within Lake Region Electric Association, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Lisa Smith
December 8, 2013 - December 14, 2013
- School
- Kimball High School
- GPA
- 4.205
- Activities
- Class Rank of 1st, Band, FFA, Class President, Drum Major(Senior) Band Secretary(Junior), Marched in Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade, High School All-State Band Member, Jazz Band, Music Ambassador, FFA Chapter President(Senior), Vice President(Junior), Good Character and Effort Award, South Dakota Girl's State Representative, Rural Electric Cooperative Brule County Washington D.C. Youth Tour Representative, National Honor Society Member, and Student Council Representative.
Lisa Smith is from Kimball, SD, located within Central Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Nichole Dvorak
December 1, 2013 - December 7, 2013
- School
- Andes Central School District
- GPA
- 3.8
- Activities
- cheerleading, choir, national honor society, first Lutheran youth group, senior class vice president, student council representative for three years, scrubs camp participant, assist at church soup suppers, help gather toys for needy families, dinner theatre participant, volleyball participant, participated in helping build a park, Fish Days queen candidate participant, helped raise money for senior meals, regional science fair participant
Nichole Dvorak is from Lake Andes, SD, located within Charles Mix Electric Association, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Michael Saffel
November 24, 2013 - November 30, 2013
- School
- Irene-Wakonda HS
- GPA
- 3.85
- Activities
- Football ? 9, 10, 11, & 12th grades Lettered in 10th & 11th grades; Varsity Starter in 11th grade Basketball ? 9, 10, & 11th grades Varsity, most improved player ? 11th Track ? 11th Lettered; Placed at Conf. & Regional Meet Student Council ? 9, 10, 11, & 12th grades Class President ? 9, 10, & 11th grade Region Rep. for I-W School & attended Sate Convention ? 10th & 11th grades Academic Awards - I-W Honor Rolls ? 9, 10, 11th, Academic Letter Award ? 9, 10, 11th, National Honor Society ? 11, 12th Community Activities: American Legion Boys? State Rep. ? 2013 Helped w. Knights of Columbus breakfasts Boys Scouts ? 2010 Senior Patrol Leader; Order of the Arrow Work Experience: Wakonda Town Employee ? Summers of 2011, 2012, & 2013 Life Guard & Park worker
Michael Saffel is from Wakonda, SD, located within Clay-Union Electric Corporation, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Sean Pinkert
November 17, 2013 - November 23, 2013
- School
- Milbank High School
- GPA
- 4.07
- Activities
- Sean is involved in: Milbank High School Band Milbank FFA Chapter Fellowship of Christian Athletes Milbank National Honor Society Church Youth Group Competitive Archery
Sean Pinkert is from Big Stone City, SD, located within Whetstone Valley Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Cole Casper
November 3, 2013 - November 9, 2013
- School
- Lake Preston
- GPA
- 3.853
- Activities
- Football, Basketball, Track and Field, Chorus, Band, Jazz Band, Marching Band, Student Council, National Honor Society President
Cole Casper is from Lake Preston, SD, located within Kingsbury Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.