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.
Evan Schoenfelder
October 3, 2010 - October 9, 2010
- School
- Parkston
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Football, Basketball, Band, NHS
Evan Schoenfelder is from Dimock, SD, located within Southeastern Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Carla Sorensen
September 26, 2010 - October 2, 2010
- School
- Vermillion High School
- GPA
- 3.846
- Activities
- Softball, Volleyball, Basketball, Track, National Honor Society, Girls State, VHS Honors Program
Carla Sorensen is from Vermillion, SD, located within Clay-Union Electric Corporation, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Joseph Johnson
September 19, 2010 - September 25, 2010
- School
- O'Gorman High School
- GPA
- 4.321
- Activities
- Choir, Show Choir, Oral Interp, School Plays, Student Ambassador, Cross Country, hockey, volunteer at Avera McKennan Hospital Emergency Dept. (215 hours, Volunteer of the Quarter for 2nd Quarter 2010), Served at the Banquet.
Joseph Johnson is from Sioux Falls, SD, located within Sioux Valley Energy, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Samuel Smith
September 12, 2010 - September 18, 2010
- School
- Groton Area School
- GPA
- 4.09
- Activities
- Soccer - 6 years, Track - 5 years, FCA - 3 years, Basketball - 2years, Jazz Band - 3 years, Show Choir - 5 years, piano - 10 years, All State Chorus, Honors Society, Youth Business Adventure, Boys State, Debate, Class Officer - 4 years, church youth group, soccer team captain, Star/Torch drug free group - member and officer
Samuel Smith is from Groton, SD, located within Northern Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Joshua Pauley
September 5, 2010 - September 11, 2010
- School
- Parker High School
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Cross Country, Track, Quiz Bowl, Band, Oral Interp., One-Act Play, All-School Play, FCCLA, Senior Class Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer
Joshua Pauley is from Parker, SD.
Kari Nelson
August 29, 2010 - September 4, 2010
- School
- Lake Preston
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Band, Chours, One-Act Play, All School Play, Show Choir, Jazz Band, Statisticaian, National Honor Society, FH Club President, LYO and plays piano for church, Blue and Gold yearbook.
Kari Nelson is from Lake Preston, SD.
Jim Wynia
May 2, 2010 - May 8, 2010
- School
- Platte-Geddes High School
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Band, Chorus, Plays, National Honor Society, Cross-Country, Basketball,
Jim Wynia is from Platte, SD.
Fredrick (Ricky) Seaman
April 25, 2010 - May 1, 2010
- School
- Sunshine Bible Academy
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Current president of the student council; has participated in music contest, ministry throughout years in high school; qualified for state cross country meet five years, qualified for state wrestling two years including this year, qualified for state track one year, qualified for state one-act play competition two years and was named outstanding actor both times, has recently been named finalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program
Fredrick (Ricky) Seaman is from Miller, SD.
Brittany Williams
April 18, 2010 - April 24, 2010
- School
- Madison High School
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Student Council Secretary, Class Representative; Marching Band - Section leader; Volleyball - 4 years, captain; FBLA - Award winner at State Competition; Spring Play Tech Crew; National Honor Society; Yearbook editor; Volunteers one to two hours a week at Church Activities.
Brittany Williams is from Madison, SD.
Caitlyn Selland
April 11, 2010 - April 17, 2010
- School
- Woonsocket High School
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Volleyball, Basketball, Track, Football stats, Basketball stats, Band, Chorus, Drama, Oral Interp, Youth Group, VBS Teacher, NHS- secretary, Student Council- secretary/tres., Quiz Bowl, and volunteers at Avera Queen of Peace Hospital.
Caitlyn Selland is from Letcher, SD.