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.
Sierra Svatos
February 10, 2013 - February 16, 2013
- School
- Andes Central
- GPA
- 3.98
- Activities
- Activities - Volleyball - participated since 5th grade, went to State tournament 2 years - Basketball ? Participated since 5th grade - Track/Field ? participated since 5th grade, went to state for High Jump for 3 years - Softball ? Freshmen and Sophomore summers - Chorus ? soprano since 7th grade, All state for four high school years - FCCLA ? Vice President of Projects freshmen year, many projects such as adopt a highway - National Honors Society ? Toy and food drive - Student Council ? President my junior year - St. Mark?s Confirmation Class ? served breakfasts once a month, helped teach younger CCD classes, took a trip to Minnesota and went to the children?s hospital and made pillows with them, served a supper at the Boys and Girl?s Club - Fish Days Pageant ? Won queen the Summer before Junior year Employment - Hired hand ? I?ve worked for my dad on the farm since freshmen year - Waitress ? Every other weekend at the Lone Tree in Geddes - Babysitting Volunteer work - Lake Restoration Project ? picked up trees and trash - City Park Project ? volunteered time - Meals on Wheels ? took senior meals to their homes - Concessions ? Fish Days demolition derby, also for Junior Class
Sierra Svatos is from LAKE ANDES, SD, located within Charles Mix Electric Association, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Lynn Ymker
February 3, 2013 - February 9, 2013
- School
- Armour High School
- GPA
- 3.96
- Activities
- President National Honor Society, President Student Council, (4 year member of both organizations), Class Officer all four years, Drama, Band, Choir, All-State Choir, Athletics, Oral Interpretation, Student of the Month, Citizen of the Month, Youth Business Academy, Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership, Governor's Leadership recipient, Student Mentor.
Lynn Ymker is from Armour, SD, located within Douglas Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Alyson Roth
January 27, 2013 - February 2, 2013
- School
- Avon High School
- GPA
- 3.94
- Activities
- Volleyball, Basketball, Track, Chorus, Science Club, Church Youth Group.
Alyson Roth is from AVON, SD, SD, located within Bon Homme-Yankton Electric Assn., a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Abby Ottenbacher
January 20, 2013 - January 26, 2013
- School
- Eureka Public School
- GPA
- 3.84
- Activities
- **Girl Scout Gold Award (pending approval)-constructed a handicap-accessible dock and a storm shelter at Eureka Lake **FCCLA State Officer-Vice President of Chapter Recognition (2011-12), District Chairperson, state STAR winner, plus numerous state and local awards. **Swimmer-placed 2nd overall in the Girls 17-19 age group. Won the Matt Rowan award, given to a swimmer who displays determination and hard work, and possesses a positive outlook on swimming even when their efforts go unrewarded. **Senior class president and National Honor Society president **Music-active in vocal and instrumental music. Sings at a variety of community functions, and has earned two superior ratings on solos at contest. 3 year participant in South Dakota All-State Chorus (freshman through jr. years as of now). Plays clarinet and tenor saxophone, & won our school?s Louis Armstrong Jazz Award in 2012. **Abby is ranked first in her class with a 3.84 GPA (we have a unique GPA system where only an A+-99-100% earns a full 4.0, so her GPA would be higher using the classification many other schools use). **Abby is the coordinator of our school?s healthy snacks vending machine. She orders and stocks the machine with items such as granola bars, pretzels, and applesauce so our students can purchase healthy snacks when they are not in class.
Abby Ottenbacher is from Eureka, SD, located within FEM Electric Association, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Josh Hinkemeyer
January 13, 2013 - January 19, 2013
- School
- Sisseton High School
- GPA
- 3.51
- Activities
- Basketball 9 FFA 9 Technology Students of America 9 Band 9 Cross Country 9-11 Track 9-11 One Act Play 9-11 (Received Outstanding Acting Award) Oral Interp 9-12 (Received State Superiors 10-11) Drama Club 10-12 (Officer-12) Performing Arts Center Tech Crew 10-12 Missoula Children's Theatre 10-11 Football 11 Prairie Fire Theatreical Company 11 Honor Junior 11 Prom Committee 11 IMPROV 11-12 Homecoming Candidate 12 Jobs as a lifeguard at the pool in the summer and at Teal's Market year round.
Josh Hinkemeyer is from Browns Valley, MN, located within Whetstone Valley Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Kristin Inman
January 6, 2013 - January 12, 2013
- School
- T. F. Riggs High School
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Drum Major "Pierrecussion" (drum line) Student Senate Officer Jazz Band Tennis Future Business Leaders of America National Honor Society Tri M Music Honor Society-Sec Girls State delegate All State Band Member Augustana Honor Band United Way Board member Teen Court volunteer Fellowship of Chirstian Athletes Pierre Dance Academy Mentor at Elementary School Boys and Girls Club Orchestra Church Youth Group Know Sign Language Play six different instruments Work at Oahe Marina & Resort Work Cathy's Country Kennels
Kristin Inman is from Pierre, SD, located within Oahe Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Donnie Decker
December 30, 2012 - January 5, 2013
- School
- James Valley Christian School
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Cross Country, Soccer, Basketball, Track, Choir, Band, Student Council President, Student Discipleship group leader, National Honor Society, Community wide Day of Caring, Worship Team member,
Donnie Decker is from Frankfort,, SD, located within Dakota Energy Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Matthew Guthmiller
December 9, 2012 - December 15, 2012
- School
- Aberdeen Central HIgh School
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- National Honor Society Marching Band Winter Drum Line Symphonic Band FBLA Science Bowl
Matthew Guthmiller is from Aberdeen, SD, located within Northern Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Nathaniel Steinlicht
December 2, 2012 - December 8, 2012
- School
- Milbank High School
- GPA
- 3.8
- Activities
- FFA for 4 years. Currently Milbank FFA Chapter President. Was awarded the State Star Greenhand Award as a Sophomore. National FFA Convention--Dairy Foods Debate--4 years Oral Interp--4 years Band--4 years Choir--4 years Theatre- 4years 4-H Member for 4 years Student Congress--4 years.
Nathaniel Steinlicht is from Milbank, SD, located within Whetstone Valley Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Brian Peterson
November 25, 2012 - December 1, 2012
- School
- Warner High School
- GPA
- 4.25
- Activities
- Brian's school activities include band, chorus, football, and wrestling. Brian also represented Warner High School on numerous occasions in the Northern State University math contest as well as the Lake Region math contest. He was also chosen as a Boys State Delegate and a representative to the Youth Senate Program.
Brian Peterson is from Warner, SD, located within Northern Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.