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.
Sawyer Langbehn
December 11, 2011 - December 17, 2011
- School
- Wolsey-Wessington
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Football (Captain 2 years) Cross Country (Captain 3 years) Basketball (Captain 2 years) Track (Captain 2 years) Class President (3 years) FFA (Current Chapter President) Oral Interp (State superior for readers theater) Student Council Band One Act Plays, and student director 4-H club president Boys State
Sawyer Langbehn is from Wolsey, SD, located within Dakota Energy Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Abigail Trieb
December 4, 2011 - December 10, 2011
- School
- Deuel High School
- GPA
- 4.031
- Activities
- Wrestling Manager, Art Club, Key Club, Chorus, Softball, 4-H,and National Honor Society
Abigail Trieb is from Gary, SD, located within H-D Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Michael Marmorstein
November 27, 2011 - December 3, 2011
- School
- Aberdeen Central HS
- GPA
- 3.951
- Activities
- Marching Band Symphonic Band Jazz Band National Honor Society A Cappella Choir Vocal Jazz Municipal Band Debate
Michael Marmorstein is from Aberdeen, SD, located within Northern Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Traci Kulesa
November 20, 2011 - November 26, 2011
- School
- Warner High School
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Band & Chorus, One-Act Play, Oral Interp, Volleyball Statistician, Track & Field, Football Student Manager, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Midwest Ambassadors of Music, Sacred Heart Youth Group, Student Sunday School Teacher, Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Seminar, Youth Business Adventure, and Student Rep for Warner School Technology Committee.
Traci Kulesa is from Aberdeen, SD, located within Northern Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Luke Van Gerpen
November 13, 2011 - November 19, 2011
- School
- Avon High School
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Basketball, Football, Track, Boy's State, Student Body Vice President, FCA,
Luke Van Gerpen is from Avon, SD, located within Bon Homme-Yankton Electric Assn., a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Courtney 1
November 6, 2011 - November 12, 2011
- School
- Yankton High School
- GPA
- 4.1
- Activities
- National Honor Society Officer(Treasurer);Mathletes-honorable mention at the SD Math Competition; Basketball, Soccer - All-state goalkeeper-Captain of Soccer team; Roll of Excellence & Press & Dakotan Student of the Week. Various Community volunteer activities - Special Olympics-Youth Soccer Coach-TOPS soccer assistant; FCA and community youth basketball assistant.
Courtney 1 is from Yankton, SD, located within Bon Homme-Yankton Electric Assn., a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Brittany Cleveland
October 30, 2011 - November 5, 2011
- School
- Sisseton High School
- GPA
- 4.068
- Activities
- FBLA-Future Business Leaders of America 9,10,11,12 local parliamentarian-11 local treasurer-12 state president-12 FCCLA-Family Career and Community Leaders of America 10,11,12 Art Club 9,10,11,12 vice president 10, president 11 Student Council Secretary/Treasurer 12 Class secretary/treasurer 9 and vice president 10 Drama Club 9,10,11,12 president 11 two year outstanding member 10,11 IMPROV troupe 9,10,11,12 Knowledge Bowl 9,10,11,12 Band 9.10 Oral Interpretation 10,11,12 (state qualifier 10,11) One Act Play 10,11 Missoula Children's Theatre 9,10,11 Community Melodrama 9,10 Wrestling Cheerleader 9 Cross-country Manager 9 Honor Junior Honor Roll National Honor Society 11,12 (inducted as a junior), Prom Committee 11 yearbook staff Girls State delegate 11 performing arts center light and audio crew 11,12 Key Club 11,12 president 12 National Student Leadership Conference 11 Governor's Leadership Luncheon 10 HOBY delegate 10 Sunday School Teacher 9,10,11,12 Church Youth Group Member 9,10,11,12 Church Learning Committee Member 9,10,11,12 president 10,11 Head of Vacation Bible School 9,10 Church Lector 12 Worked at WASP (Westside After School Program) 9 Babysitter 11,12 works at The Cottage Restaurant10,11,12
Brittany Cleveland is from Sisseton, SD, located within Whetstone Valley Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Kiley Maki
October 23, 2011 - October 29, 2011
- School
- Marshall High School
- GPA
- 4.116
- Activities
- Band, Marching Band, Math Team
Kiley Maki is from Marshall, MN.
Megan Krogman
October 16, 2011 - October 22, 2011
- School
- Elkton High School
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- ?Varsity Basketball, 2008-present ?Junior Varsity Volleyball, 2008-2009 ?Varsity Volleyball, 2009-present ?Varsity Track, 2010-present ?Band ?Choir ?School Musical ?Church Choir ?FCA, 2010-present ?FCCLA, 2007-present ?All- State ?B? Tournament Team, 2009 ?All-Conference Selection Basketball, 2009 and 2010 ?All-Conference Selection Volleyball, 2009 and 2010 ?Brookings Register All-Area Team Selection Basketball, 2010 ?South Dakota Youth Leader Award, 2009 ?Miss Elkton First Attendant, 2011
Megan Krogman is from Elkton, SD, located within Sioux Valley Energy, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Justin Mahutga
October 9, 2011 - October 15, 2011
- School
- Baltic High School
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Band, Chorus, FCCLA, Cross-Country, National Honor Society, Quiz Bowl, Student Body President, Homecoming Royalty, 4-H, School and Community Volunteer,
Justin Mahutga is from Baltic, SD, located within Sioux Valley Energy, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.