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.
Megan Williams
November 18, 2012 - November 24, 2012
- School
- RTR High School
- GPA
- 3.746
- Activities
- yearbook-4 yrs, film club-2 yrs, band-4 yrs, band manager-1 yr, choir-4 yrs, Satin 'n Lace women's group-3 yrs, volleyball manager-2 yrs, honor society-2 yrs, FFA-4 yrs, current FFA President
Megan Williams is from Russell, MN, located within Lyon-Lincoln Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Brady Bury
November 11, 2012 - November 17, 2012
- School
- Webster Area High School
- GPA
- 3.75
- Activities
- Football, Basketball, Track, National Honor Society, Key Club, and W Club
Brady Bury is from Webster, SD, located within Lake Region Electric Association, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Danielle Van Kooten
November 4, 2012 - November 10, 2012
- School
- Sioux Valley High School
- GPA
- 3.95
- Activities
- SV Honor Roll (Ranked #1 in class),Student Body Treasurer, Student Council (3 yr. member),FFA Chapter President (4 yr. member), Competitive Cheer Team (3 yrs), Sideline Cheer (4 yrs), Choir (4 yrs)
Danielle Van Kooten is from Volga, SD, located within Sioux Valley Energy, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Rose Konechne
October 28, 2012 - November 3, 2012
- School
- White Lake
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Volleyball Basketball Track Choir Band
Rose Konechne is from White Lake, SD, located within Central Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Samuel Pond
October 21, 2012 - October 27, 2012
- School
- Waverly/South Shore
- GPA
- 3.818
- Activities
- National Honor Society President Student Council President Math Club Football (4 years) Football All-Conference Honorable Mention (2 years) Basketball (4 years) Track (3 years) Participant, ECC Business and Math Contest ECC Math Contest team Member Northern State University Math Contest Participant(4 years) Northern State University Math Contest team Member Actively involved in Church youth group Volunteer service at Bennett Place in Watertown Boys State Representative HOBY participant Regional Science Fair Competitor PACH Program Volunteer Takes AP Courses
Samuel Pond is from Watertown, SD, located within Codington-Clark Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Rachel Thiewes
October 14, 2012 - October 20, 2012
- School
- Deuel
- GPA
- 4.04
- Activities
- Volleyball Basketball Track Chorus National Honor Society FFA Key Club
Rachel Thiewes is from Clear Lake, SD, located within H-D Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Taylor Donnelly
October 7, 2012 - October 13, 2012
- School
- Elk Point-Jefferson High School
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Cross Country-Captain Dance Team-Captain Flag Team- Captain Newspaper-Editor National Honor Society- Secretary Student Council-Treasurer Natural Helpers Wrestling Cheerleader Basketball Manager Show Choir Vocal Musical One Act Play Oral Interpretation Track Friend's Feast Humane Society CCD Teens Encounter Christ Cantor for St. Josephs Singer in a band at United Parish Horseback riding Training to recieve pilot's license Race for the Cure Ran a half marathon
Taylor Donnelly is from Elk Point, SD, located within Union County Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Collin Bertram
September 30, 2012 - October 6, 2012
- School
- Vermillion High School
- GPA
- 3.5
- Activities
- Football, Basketball
Collin Bertram is from Vermillion, SD, located within Clay-Union Electric Corporation, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Zachary DeJong
September 23, 2012 - September 29, 2012
- School
- Canton High School
- GPA
- 3.9
- Activities
- National Honors Society, football, basketball, baseball,peer helpers,FFA, FCA, tutoring/mentoring, 4-H, HOBY, volunteering in the community and church.
Zachary DeJong is from Canton, SD, located within Southeastern Electric Coop, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Brady Brockel
September 16, 2012 - September 22, 2012
- School
- Sunshine Bible Academy
- GPA
- 3.95
- Activities
- Football, track, choir, band, All State choir, small vocal ensemble, Oral Interp, One Act Play, Academic Challenge, worship team, Student Council
Brady Brockel is from Miller, SD, located within Dakota Energy Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.