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.
Allison Fink
September 24, 2006 - September 30, 2006
- School
- Tripp-Delmont High School
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Basketball 4 yrs Track 2 yrs. Golf 1 yr Band 5 yrs Piano Accompanist 4 yrs Jazz Band 4 yrs Chorus 4 yrs Girls Chorus 4 yrs TATU 3 yrs Natural Helper 2 yrs Quiz Bowl 2 yrs Class President 4 yrs Yankton P&D A+ student 4 yrs Student Council Sec/Treas 1 yr Student Council President 1 yr Football Statatician 3 yrs Girls State Representative
Allison Fink is from Delmont, SD.
Elisa Chan
September 17, 2006 - September 23, 2006
- School
- Roosevelt High School
- GPA
- 4.225
- Activities
- Roosevelt Teddies Dance Team, Spectrum (Diversity Awareness Club), RHS Math Team, Orchestra (Principal Violist), Future Business Leaders of America, Student Council (Treasurer), Serve and Learn Student Association (over 500 volunteer hours), National Honors' Society, RHS Diversity Committee, Dance, Piano, Dakota Academy of Performing Arts (principal Violist), All-State Orchestra (4 years), Summer Scholar at Washington University in St. Louis, Habitat for Humanity, and Veterans Administration Hospital (over 700 volunteer hours)
Elisa Chan is from Sioux Falls, SD.
Julie Santella
September 10, 2006 - September 16, 2006
- School
- O'Gorman High School
- GPA
- 4.32
- Activities
- Varsity & Dakota Gold soccer, Concert Choir, school musical, plays violin, Church Choir, Church Youth Group, National Honor Society
Julie Santella is from Sioux Falls, SD.
Mikaela Sechser
September 3, 2006 - September 9, 2006
- School
- Harrisburg High School
- GPA
- 4.063
- Activities
- Basketball (grades 9-12), Volleyball (grade 9), Track (grade 9), Club Soccer (grades 9-12), High School Soccer (grades 10-12), Advanced/Recreational Soccer (grades 9-12), Concert Band (grades 9-12), Marching Band (grades 9-12), Pep Band (grades 9-12), Jazz Band (grade 12), Quiz Bowl (grades 11-12), Piano Lessons (grades 9-12), SEED (gifted program - grades 9-12), First Priority (grades 10-12), Yearbook/Annual Staff (grades 11-12), Prom Committee (grade 11), Tiger Staff (school newspaper - grade 12)
Mikaela Sechser is from Harrisburg, SD.
Kelsie Nebelsick
May 7, 2006 - May 13, 2006
- School
- Canistota High School
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- National Honor Society, Volleyball, Basketball, President of local FBLA, numerous other school, church, and community activities.
Kelsie Nebelsick is from Canistota, SD.
Kayla Graber
April 30, 2006 - May 6, 2006
- School
- Hurley
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Jr. Auxiliary Community Choir Jazz Band Jazz Choir Journalism Honor Sociecty Parade Marshall 4-H Jinior Leader All School Play Chorus Student Council TATU TORCH Yearbook Church Youth Group FCCLA Band Basketball Cheerleading Track Volleyball Softball 4-H Salem Mennonite Church Member Chancel Choir at Salem Church Bell Choir at Salem Church
Kayla Graber is from Hurley, SD.
Jami Swenson
April 23, 2006 - April 29, 2006
- School
- Chamberlain High School
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Band, Chorus, National Honor Society, Volleyball, Fine Arts Plays & Musicals, Student Council
Jami Swenson is from Chamberlain, SD.
Matt Hubbell
April 16, 2006 - April 22, 2006
- School
- Brandon Valley High School
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Concert Band, Marching Band, Jazz Band, Concert Choir, All-State Chorus, Student Council, National Honor Society, Tennis, Theater, Peer Helpers, Tutor
Matt Hubbell is from Brandon, SD.
Kindal Konechne
April 9, 2006 - April 15, 2006
- School
- Kimball
- GPA
- 4.072
- Activities
- FBLA-Mountain Plains National Vice President, Track, Basketball, National Honor Society, Student Council, marching band, K Club,
Kindal Konechne is from Kimball, SD.
Jennifer Bjorklund
April 2, 2006 - April 8, 2006
- School
- Estelline High School
- GPA
- 3.884
- Activities
- Drama (all school play and the 1-Act, Volleyball, National Honor Society, and has been part of the music programs and track in the past.
Jennifer Bjorklund is from Estelline, SD.