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.
Shelby Selland
February 9, 2014 - February 15, 2014
- School
- Sanborn Central High School
- GPA
- 4.03
- Activities
- Basketball, All Tournament Team Member at the State "B" Basketball Tournament in 2012 & 2013, Volleyball, Track, Chorus, Band, National Honor Society, Student Council President, Spirit Club, Sunday School teacher, Church usher
Shelby Selland is from Letcher, SD, located within Central Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Mathew Preszler
February 2, 2014 - February 8, 2014
- School
- Menno High School
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Band-4 yrs.; Drum Major-4 yrs.; Band President; Chorus-4 yrs.; All-State Chorus-3 yrs.; One-Act Play-3yrs; Football-3 yrs; Track-3 yrs; FFA-4 yrs; FFA Sect./Treasure-3 yrs; Student Council-2 yrs; Student Council President; FCA-4 yrs; Quiz Bowl-2 yrs; NHS-2 yrs; SD Honor Choir; HOBY representative; YBA.
Mathew Preszler is from Menno, SD, located within Southeastern Electric Coop, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
David Weidler
January 26, 2014 - February 1, 2014
- School
- Howard High School
- GPA
- 4.165
- Activities
- David has been active in Football, Basketball and Golf David particpated in Band,Jazz Band, Choir and Quiz Bowl He is a member of the H-Club and National Honor Society He was selected to Big East Conference Honors Band (3) Was also selected to Big East Conference Honors Choir (1) He was Sophmore Class Vice-President He is currently Honor Society Representative to the Student Council David was 1st chair trumpet (2) As a junior, he did independent computer study and worked with computer teacher to develop the school's new website David helps instruct kids during the summer Junior Golf program He helps every spring with the golf team at cleanup workbee at the golf course Works in the concession stand 4 times throughout the school year Always helps to get things set up for various fundraisers or projects Played TAPS for the Veterans Day Service Assisted with several Boy Scout "Eagle Scout" projects Helped local Boy Scout troup with decorating graves for Memorial Day Worked with Mr Holland on the Howard High School Library remodel project, his Sophomore summer David was a Cub Scout and was a Boy Scout for several years
David Weidler is from Howard, SD, located within Central Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
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.