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 Pond
March 25, 2012 - March 31, 2012
- School
- Ipswich High School
- GPA
- 4.17
- Activities
- Sports, band, vocal, FBLA, NHS,
Megan Pond is from Ipswich, SD, located within FEM Electric Association, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Ashley Feickert
March 18, 2012 - March 24, 2012
- School
- Leola High School
- GPA
- 3.84
- Activities
- Ashley is involved with numerous activities from various sports to church related activities. She is involved with 4-H, Peer Helpers, CCD, volleyball, chorus, band, FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) and is senior class president.
Ashley Feickert is from Long Lake, SD, located within FEM Electric Association, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Luke Buffington
March 11, 2012 - March 17, 2012
- School
- Gayville-Volin High School
- GPA
- 4.208
- Activities
- Oral Interpretation (State Superior Award Winner - 2 years) School Play / Drama Student Council - President 2011-2012 Science Olympiad Chorus - All State Football Basketball Track and Field Boys State - Most Outstanding Citizen 2011 HOBY Delegate 2010 HOBY Leadership for Service Bronze Award 2011 Rural Electric DC Youth Tour 2011 Economics for Leaders Program at Cornell University - Summer 2011
Luke Buffington is from Gayville, SD, located within Clay-Union Electric Corporation, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Haley Brunke
March 4, 2012 - March 10, 2012
- School
- Scotland High School
- GPA
- 3.902
- Activities
- Cross Country, Basketball, Track, Student Council, Choir, Band, Show Choir
Haley Brunke is from Scotland, SD, located within Bon Homme-Yankton Electric Assn., a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Adam Cloos
February 26, 2012 - March 3, 2012
- School
- Milbank High School
- GPA
- 4.105
- Activities
- Adam has been involved in Football for 4 years; Track-3 years. Adam was one of the 2011-Team Captain of the Milbank Football team. Adam is a Member of the Milbank School Honor Society. Homecoming King in 2011. Senior Class President Attended USD Young Leaders Milbank School Blood Drive Worker Nani O'Hana Cancer Walk Team Member Adam has been a leader of the Milbank FFA Chapter. Current Milbank FFA Chapter Vice President. Chapter President in 2010-2011. Attended the FFA Washington Leadership Conference in July, 2011. Represented South Dakota at the National FFA Convention in 2010. Attended the FFA State Convention 3 years. Participated at the State FFA Leadership for 4 years.
Adam Cloos is from Milbank, SD, located within Whetstone Valley Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Kari Fods
February 19, 2012 - February 25, 2012
- School
- Chester Area School
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- National Honor Society, president. Spanish Club, president. Class president. Band, president. Student Council. Yearbook. Cheerleading.
Kari Fods is from Madison, SD, located within Sioux Valley Energy, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Sarah Wedel
February 12, 2012 - February 18, 2012
- School
- James Valley Christian School
- GPA
- 3.98
- Activities
- National Honor Society, Student Council Vice President, Rural Electric Youth Tour to Washington D.C., Girls State Leutenant Governor, Class president in grades 9-11,Concert Band, All-State Chorus, Music Contest winner, Five-year winner in National Piano Guild Competitions, Volleyball Co-Captain, Varsity Basketball starter, and State Track.
Sarah Wedel is from Yale, SD, located within Dakota Energy Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Kelli Garry
February 5, 2012 - February 11, 2012
- School
- Lake Preston School District
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Band, Chours, Swing Choir, Jazz Band, FFA, FCCLA, Oral Interp, Student Council, Blood Drive, Blue and Gold, NHS, Comp Cheer
Kelli Garry is from Lake Preston, SD, SD, located within Kingsbury Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Stephanie Haiar
January 29, 2012 - February 4, 2012
- School
- Marion School District
- GPA
- 3.744
- Activities
- Volleyball, Basketball, Golf, Student Council, Band, Choir, FCA, School Board Student Leadership Team
Stephanie Haiar is from Marion, SD, located within Southeastern Electric Coop, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Ryan Howe
January 22, 2012 - January 28, 2012
- School
- Chamberlain High School
- GPA
- 4.13
- Activities
- CHS Concert Choir, National Honor Society, Technology Aide for CHS, Voice of Democracy Speech Regional Winner
Ryan Howe is from Chamberlain, SD 57325, SD, located within Central Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.