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.
Paige Nelson
January 11, 2009 - January 17, 2009
- School
- Colman-Egan High School
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Basketball, Track, Volleyball, Cheerleading, High School Rodeo, Oral Interp, National Honor Society, FFA, Teens Against Tabacco Useage, 4-H, Class Officer, Church Youth Group, Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Paige Nelson is from Colman, SD.
Jena Kloos
January 4, 2009 - January 10, 2009
- School
- Deuel High School
- GPA
- 4.011
- Activities
- Gymnastics, Track, Theater, Oral Interp, Key Club Vice-President, Senior Class President, Student Council President, Art Club President, and Junior Auxilary Co-President
Jena Kloos is from Gary, SD.
Alisha Luymes
December 14, 2008 - December 20, 2008
- School
- Wessington Springs School District
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Activities Volleyball (freshman, sophomore) Basketball (freshman) Concert, Pep, Marching, and Jazz Band Chorus and Natural High FCCLA Pianist (4th ? present) Church Youth Group Church Choir Musical and Play Awards/Honors Prom Waitress Gold Honor Roll National Honor Roll Who?s Who Among High School Students Hustler Award ? 2005 (volleyball) Most Improved Player ? 2006 (volleyball) Minor Letter (volleyball, basketball) Outstanding Vocalist (freshman, sophomore, junior) Outstanding Instrumentalist (freshman, sophomore, junior) 2 Piano Awards Academic Challenge (Algebra 2nd Place) Honor Choir (2007,2008) All State Chorus (2007) Honor Band (2006, 2007) National Honor Society (2008) Community Service Banquet Relay for Life (helped on luminary committee) Community Food Pantry Drive Vacation Bible School Helper Painted Mural Helped with 125th Celebration Fundraisers Helped with Farm and Home Show Fundraiser Mission trip to Colorado (2006) Mission trip to Haiti (2008) Sunday School Helper Other Information Student Council Representative (Sophomore) Junior Class President FCCLA District Treasurer (Sophomore) Church Youth Group Treasurer (Sophomore, Junior) Church Worship Committee Member Leadership Class (Freshman) Legion Auxiliary ? Junior Member Wessington Springs Area Community Foundation ? Highschool member
Alisha Luymes is from Wessington Springs, SD.
Samantha Axtmann
December 7, 2008 - December 13, 2008
- School
- Huron High School
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Student Council secretary, National Honor Society, marching band,jazz band, Mardrigals, dance team, Pep club,Key Club, United Way Board, Johnny Cavelle dance, We Found Sound Show Choir
Samantha Axtmann is from Huron, SD.
Rika Beck
November 30, 2008 - December 6, 2008
- School
- T. F. Riggs High School
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Piano Band National Honor Society Varsity tennis
Rika Beck is from Pierre, SD.
Kyle Auch
November 16, 2008 - November 22, 2008
- School
- Menno High School
- GPA
- 3.91
- Activities
- Football, basketball, track, baseball, National Honor Society, Chorus, One-Act Play, Student Council, FCCLA, Teens Against Tobacco Use, Future Farmers of America, Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Kyle Auch is from Pierre, SD.
John Patzlaff
November 9, 2008 - November 15, 2008
- School
- Platte-Geddes High School
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Music is John's main activity. He has been an All-State member of both band and choir. He is a member of National Honor Society. John has been involved with theatre,also.
John Patzlaff is from Platte, SD.
Faith Begay
November 2, 2008 - November 8, 2008
- School
- Lyman High School
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- volleyball 9th-12th,basketball 9th-12th, golf 9th-12th, student council 9th-12th, band 9th-12th, National Honor Society 10th-12th, Oral Interpretation9th-12th, debate 12th, drama 12th
Faith Begay is from Lower Brule, SD.
Rita VanKirk
October 26, 2008 - November 1, 2008
- School
- Parker High School
- GPA
- 3.96
- Activities
- National Honor Society, FCCLA, Quiz Bowl, Oral Interp., One-Act Play, All-School Play, Chorus
Rita VanKirk is from Parker, SD.
Alex Marie Brower
October 19, 2008 - October 25, 2008
- School
- Sioux Falls Christian High School
- GPA
- 3.9
- Activities
- Volleyball, basketball, track, softball, National Honor Society, church choir and activities, nanny
Alex Marie Brower is from Sioux Falls, SD.