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.
Casey Michel
April 1, 2007 - April 7, 2007
- School
- St. Mary Catholic Schools
- GPA
- 4.034
- Activities
- Football,Basketball,Track; National Honor Society President; Student Council President; Juvenile Forester
Casey Michel is from Dell Rapids, SD.
Abby Harmon
March 25, 2007 - March 31, 2007
- School
- Hurley
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Everything
Abby Harmon is from Hurley, SD.
Daniel Woodraska
March 18, 2007 - March 24, 2007
- School
- Kimball High School
- GPA
- 4.104
- Activities
- FBLA Officer, Student Council, Student Body President, Class Officer, Basketball stats and video, School Mascot, Play, Band, Golf, National Honor Society
Daniel Woodraska is from Kimball, SD.
Jentre Olsen
March 11, 2007 - March 17, 2007
- School
- Platte Community School
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Jentre is active in band and chorus as well as basketball and track. He has been a class officer and involved in National Honor Society.
Jentre Olsen is from Platte, SD.
Sarah Knippling
March 4, 2007 - March 10, 2007
- School
- Chamberlain High School
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Drama Club, Youth to Youth, Variety Show, Volleyball, Girls' State, Show Choir, FCCLA
Sarah Knippling is from Gann Valley, SD.
Emma Erickson
February 25, 2007 - March 3, 2007
- School
- Gayville-Volin High School
- GPA
- 4.106
- Activities
- 4 Year Band Member; Student Council Representative; Soccer Team; State B Track Champion, State Champion; 3-Time State B Cross Country Champion; Basketball Team; 4-H; School Play; Sunday School Teacher
Emma Erickson is from Gayville, SD.
Brett Monson
February 18, 2007 - February 24, 2007
- School
- Webster High School
- GPA
- 4.083
- Activities
- Student council, FB, Basketball, Track, choir, band, NHS, Key Club, FFA.
Brett Monson is from Webster, SD.
Darin Schmidt
February 11, 2007 - February 17, 2007
- School
- Elk Point-Jefferson
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Semi-finalist National Merit Scholar, National Honor Society, Student Council (4 years - includes many service programs, i.e. food drive, homecoming preparation, etc.), Jazz Band (4 years), Band (4 years), Vocal (4years), Football (3 years), Basketball (2 years), Track (4 years), Oral Interp (1 year), Twenty hours of community service through Saint Joe's Catholic Church, Altar server, Lector server, Cantor server, and will be employed as a teacher-assistant in the spring semester.
Darin Schmidt is from Elk Point, SD.
Shawna Knutson
February 4, 2007 - February 10, 2007
- School
- Irene High School
- GPA
- 3.7
- Activities
- VB - 9,10,11,&12 (lettered the last 3 years)1st Team All-Conf. & 1st Team All-Region - 12; BB - 9,10,11,&12 (lettered the last 3 years); Track - 9,10,11, - lettered all 3 years; Participated in summer softball league - 8 years; FCCLA - 9 & 10; Instrumental Band - 9,10,11,&12(lettered the last 3 years); Academic Letter Award - 10,11,&12; Class Officer - all 4 years; Student Body President - 12; National Honor Society - 11 & 12; 'A' Honor Roll - 9,10,11,&12; A+ Student Award 10; Wendy's High School Heisman Local Nominee; Helped with and organized numerous community service projects through her church, FCCLA and the Irene H.S. Student Council.
Shawna Knutson is from Utica, SD.
Mica Olson
January 28, 2007 - February 3, 2007
- School
- Mitchell Christian School
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Starter on State B basketball championship team, volleyball team captain, track, senior class president, school Bible study leader
Mica Olson is from Forestburg, SD.