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Winners

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.

Maggiepence

Maggie Pence

September 6, 2009 - September 12, 2009

School
Aberdeen Central High School
GPA
3.917
Activities
National Honor Society, Debate, Environmental Club (Co-chair)

Maggie Pence is from Westport, SD.

Randallw

Randall Waldner

May 3, 2009 - May 9, 2009

School
Redfield High School
GPA
4.107
Activities
Student Council ? Class Vice President (Jr), Student Body President (Sr.) Football ?4 years, Captain 2 years, All Conference (Jr, So), Rookie of Year (9) FBLA ? 4 years, Chapter President (Sr) Band ? 4 years Wrestling ?4 years, Captain 3 years, State Champion, HWT (Jr), 6th Place 215 (So) Baseball ? 4 years Track ? 4 years, Captain 3years CCD ? 4 years Co-Ed Softball ? 3 years Prom Decorator ?A? Honor Roll ? All Quarters of High School Student of the Month ? freshman, Junior Boys State ? Junior HOBY Delegate ? sophomore

Randall Waldner is from Redfied, SD, SD.

Jessicaw

Jessica Wolles

April 26, 2009 - May 2, 2009

School
St. Mary High School, Dell Rapids
GPA
3.94
Activities
Volleyball, Football Cheerleading, Basketball, Boys Basketball Cheerleading, National Honor Society President, Track, Student Mentor for Elementary Students

Jessica Wolles is from Dell Rapids, SD.

Sarah%2Dpederson

Sarah Pederson

April 19, 2009 - April 25, 2009

School
Great Plains Lutheran High School
GPA
3.5
Activities
Volleyball 9-12 Basketball 9-12 Track 9-12 Choir 10-12 Honor Choir 10-12 Band 10-12 Student Council 12

Sarah Pederson is from Watertown, SD.

Lanes

Lane Stockland

April 12, 2009 - April 18, 2009

School
Irene-Wakonda High School
GPA
3.75
Activities
Activities 4 years football, four years varsity letter winner, 1st team all TVC 4 years basketball, three years varsity letter winner, honorable mention TVC 4 years band, three year letter winner 2 years student council 2 years all-school play Awards 4 year academic letter winner National Honors Society member- 11th and 12th Voice of Democracy regional winner ?11th Homecoming Royalty- 12th A-honor roll every quarter since 9th grade Community Service/Work Experience Charlie?s Bus Service & Auto Repair ? summer of 2006 ? Present Assistant manager Volunteered at Veterans? Day banquet Always help with basketball tournaments Construction of church wheel chair ramp for my church and help paint the church as well

Lane Stockland is from Irene, SD.

Hanna

Hanna Larsen

April 5, 2009 - April 11, 2009

School
Groton Area High School
GPA
4.08
Activities
volleyball - 4years, track - 4years, FCA President, Star/Torch Drug Free Group, Natural Helpers Peer Helping group, Church youth group, All-school play, Yearbook, National Honors Society, youth volleyball coach - 3 years, Youth Business Adventure 08, SD Girls State 08, Senior and Junior Class officer

Hanna Larsen is from Groton, SD.

Travisn

Travis Nordgaard

March 29, 2009 - April 4, 2009

School
Canby High School
GPA
3.973
Activities
School, Community and Employment Activities Academic ? National Honor Society (11,12) - Helped organize and worked at blood drives, food drives and other events. ? Student Council (9,10,11,12) - South Dakota State Student Council Representative (7) - Canby, MN High School Student Council Representative (9,10,11,12) - Canby, MN High School Student Council President (12) - Delegate to Minnesota State Student Council Conventions (9,10,11,12) - Delegate to National Student Council Convention ? Philadelphia (9) - Minnesota Southwest Division Parliamentarian (10) - Minnesota Southwest Division President (11,12) ? Mock Trial - Head Attorney (9,10,11,12) ? Knowledge Bowl (9,10,11,12) - Minnesota State Finalist (9) - Minnesota Regional Finalist (9,10,11) ? Speech (9,10,11,12) - Multiple ribbons and metals (9,10,11,12) - 1st Place Extemporaneous Speaking, Minnesota Sub-Sections (11) - Minnesota Section Finalist - Extemporaneous Speaking (11) ? School Board - Food Service Selection Student Representative (11) - Cell-phone policy Committee (12) Music / Arts ? Canby High School Concert Choir (9,10,11,12) - Valentines Singing Group (9,10,11,12) - Boy?s Select Singing group (9,10,11,12) - Choir Treasurer (10,11,12) - Superior Rating at Solo/Ensemble Contest (11) ? Canby High School Concert, Jazz, Pep and Marching Bands (9,10,11,12) - 1st chair trombone (10,11,12) - Section Leader (11,12) - Treasurer (10,11,12) - Superior Rating at Solo/Ensemble Contest (9,10,11) Music / Arts ? continued: ? Canby High School Musicals (9,10,11,12) - ?Anne get your gun?, Major role (9) - ?The Boyfriend?, Lead role (10) - ?The Music Man?, Lead role ? Harold Hill (11) ? One Act Play (10,11,12) - Lead roles (10,11,12) - 1st Place Minnesota Sub-Section (10) - 3rd Place Minnesota Sub-Section (11) Sports ? Basketball - Letter Winner (9,10,11,12) - Starter (9,10,11,12) - AAU Team Member (10,11) - Captain (12) ? Golf - Letter Winner (10,11,12) ? Football - Letter Winner (9,10) - Starter (10) ? Cross Country - Letter Winner (11,12) ? Letter Persons Club - Member (9,10,11,12) - Triple Letter Winner (10,11,12) ? Homecoming Royalty - Selected King Candidate (12) Community ? Boy Scouts - Eagle Scout - Attended National Boy Scout Jamboree in Virginia (2005) - Attended multiple summer camps across upper Midwest. - Twice camped in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Northern Minnesota. Community ? continued: ? American Legion - Minnesota Boys State Delegate (1st ever from Canby) - Elected President of the Senate (Minnesota Boys State) - Selected ?Most Outstanding Boys Stater? (Minnesota Boys State) - Fred Freisleben-Way Award (Minnesota Boys State) - Selected Delegate to Boys Nation (Washington, DC) - Elected Chairman of one of four committees (Boys Nation) - Elected Secretary of the Senate ? One of four possible positions. (Boys Nation) ? Red Cross - Certified Lifeguard (9,10,11,12) - Certified Water Safety Instructor (10,11,12) - Certified CPR and First Aid (9,10,11,12) ? Lake Cochrane Improvement Association - Board Member (10,11,12) - Webmaster, lakecochrane.org ? Local Memorial Services - Patriots Pen Essay Finalist (8,9) - Volunteer Performer in Band (9,10,11) - Volunteer Speaker at Memorial Service (9,10,11) ? Campaign Work - Volunteer / Organizer Mike Bredeck for Minnesota State Rep. ?06? - Volunteer / Organizer Mike Bredeck for Minnesota State Rep. ?08? - Southern Division Representative for Bredeck ?08? Duties in both elections include: Organizing and conducting door ? knocking, literature dropping, radio ads, recruiting representation in parades and sign posting. - Delegate to the Republican National Youth Convention ? Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota ?08? - Volunteer / Attendee to the Republican National Convention ? Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota ?08? Religious Activities ? Church - Confirmed Catholic Faith - Altar Server - Lector - Youth Group Member / Volunteer - Camp Counselor (John Paul II Summer Leadership Camp) Religious Activities ? continued: ? Agapes Regional Christian Singing Group - Member (10,11,12) - Ministered to New York City (tour) (10) ? Fellowship of Christian Athletes - Active Member (9,10,11,12)

Travis Nordgaard is from Gary, SD.

Bethanye

Bethany Ellefson

March 22, 2009 - March 28, 2009

School
Flandreau Public High School
GPA
4
Activities
Cross Country, Band, Jazz Band, Choir, Jazz Choir, Volleyball, Oral Interp, One-Act Play, All School Play, Computer Programming Competition, National Honor Society, Senior Class President

Bethany Ellefson is from Trent, SD.

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Ellen Gillette

March 15, 2009 - March 21, 2009

School
Redfield High School
GPA
4.092
Activities
National Honor Society Concert band Marching band Pep band Jazz band Chorus All-state chorus (2007 and 2008) Journalism Staff(yearbook and pheasant call editor) Prom-decorating committee Co-ed softball FBLA FCCLA Competition cheerleading Co-ed competition cheerleading Johnny Cavelle Dance (non-syllabus ballet, point, Cecchetti, tap, jazz, character, celtic, company, dance team, modern) Jr. and Sr. snow queen ?A? honor roll Student of the month Math contest Miller academic challenge Knowledge bowl DAR good citizens award contest

Ellen Gillette is from Redfied, SD, SD.

Emilys

Emily Sazma

March 8, 2009 - March 14, 2009

School
Harrisburg High School
GPA
4.057
Activities
Student Council President, National Honor Society President, 4H President, State Student Council Reporter, Band, Jazz Band, Quiz Bowl, Play Cast, Editor of the Tiger Newspaper

Emily Sazma is from Sioux Falls, SD.