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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.

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Alison Nankivel

April 30, 2023 - May 6, 2023

School
Parker High School (6052973456)
GPA
4
Activities
Band: Drum Major 2022, FCCLA: National Qualifier 2022, Regional Vice President, Chapter President, State Leadership Team: National Outreach. Great Plains Zoo: 4 year volunteer, Zoo Camp Counselor, Cheerleading, National Honor Society; Kindness Committee Leader.

Alison Nankivel is from Parker, SD, located within Southeastern Electric Coop, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

Lily

Blue Lily

April 23, 2023 - April 29, 2023

School
Iroquois School (605-546-2426)
GPA
3.98
Activities
National Honor Society, HOSA Nationals, Humanity Launch Student Leadershp Academy, Honor Roll, Senior Class President, FFA officer, Iroquois Peer Assistance Team, Volleyball 4 years, Band, Choir

Blue Lily is from Iroquois, SD, located within Dakota Energy Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

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Reese Voorhees

April 16, 2023 - April 22, 2023

School
Sully Buttes High School (605 258 2618)
GPA
4
Activities
: Throughout Reese's high school career he has been involved in the following activities; football four years, basketball one year, golf four years, legion baseball four years, FFA four years, band three years, chorus four years, and student council four years. His accomplishments include being his class president four years, having a 4.0 GPA, placing top three in the fed cattle challenge, placing top five in state FFA for Ag Mechanics, and being nominated as a Boys State delegate.

Reese Voorhees is from Onida, SD, located within Oahe Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

Brayden Metzger HBC

Brayden Metzger

April 9, 2023 - April 15, 2023

School
Hills-Beaver Creek (507.962.3240)
GPA
3.93
Activities
Football, Basketball, Track, Knowledge Bowl, Math League, Student Council, PBIS team

Brayden Metzger is from Hills, MN, located within Sioux Valley Energy, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

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Cally Faulhaber

April 2, 2023 - April 8, 2023

School
Plankinton School District (6059427743)
GPA
4.04
Activities
Cally has an endless list of activities and accomplishments beginning with National Honors Society, volleyball, basketball, student council, class officer, track, quiz bowl team, yearbook staff, choir, band, Honor Roll, and FCCLA at school. Cally participated in National FCCLA in San Diego this past summer along with an ample list of other awards in various activities. Cally is also actively involved with volunteer opportunities and community clubs. Cally has taught Sunday School for the past 3 years and is actively involved in 4-H Youth opportunities. Cally is her 4-H club president as well as 4-H Legislative representative, 4-H Teen Lead, SD Junior Beef Ambassador, and 4-H Ambassador.

Cally Faulhaber is from Plankinton, SD, located within Central Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

Shay

Shalayne Nagel

March 19, 2023 - March 25, 2023

School
Wagner Community School (6053845426)
GPA
3.92
Activities
Shalayne is involved in volleyball, basketball, track, student council, activities council, national honors society. She has been selected all conference in both volleyball and basketball. Shalayne is a great role model for the elementary students in our building and is always putting in time in both the ELC and the elementary. She goes above and beyond in everything she does.

Shalayne Nagel is from SPRINGFIELD, SD, located within Charles Mix Electric Association, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

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Juliann Seeley

March 12, 2023 - March 18, 2023

School
Beresford (6057632145)
GPA
4.12
Activities
Juliann is extremely committed to her family, school, and community. She currently serves in the role as president of the Beresford High School National Honor Society and Beresford High School HOSA-Future Healthcare Leaders. Ms. Seeley was also elected to serve as a SD HOSA State Officer for the 2022-2023 School Year. Juliann earned that position through demonstrating positive leadership, hard work, perseverance, dependability, and always willing to put effort forth where needed. In addition, she earned 1st place at the 2022 HOSA State Conference in the Sports Medicine Event! Juliann's curiosity and quest to always go above and beyond what is expected is what sets her apart from her peers. She currently drives 70 miles, four days a week, to attend a Chemistry 112/L course at the University of South Dakota. She made the commitment, along with several sacrifices, to make this a reality. Ms. Seeley is also involved in volleyball, band, powerlifting, quiz bowl, and softball. She is able to successfully juggle all these areas of her life while also working a part-time job at the local nursing home! I am impressed by her commitment and drive in her servant leadership endeavors. Juliann is an outstanding young lady who will definitely continue to make a significant impact in all that she touches.

Juliann Seeley is from Beresford, SD, located within Southeastern Electric Coop, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

Kailee

Kailee Berger

March 5, 2023 - March 11, 2023

School
Waubay High School ((605) 947-4529)
GPA
3.98
Activities
Senior Class President, 4-H (Vice President of the 4-H club; made it to State in pole bending and barrels in previous years; shows goats at the fair), Rodeo (won two saddles barrel racing), Basketball Varsity Team Captain and starter, Volleyball freshman through junior year, NHS, takes HS Dual Credit courses

Kailee Berger is from Ortley, SD, located within Lake Region Electric Association, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

Quincy

Quincy Olivier

February 26, 2023 - March 4, 2023

School
Ipswich Public School (605-426-6571)
GPA
4.1
Activities
Rodeo, 4-H, FBLA, NHS, Band, Art, Volleyball, Basketball and Track.

Quincy Olivier is from Ipswich, SD, located within FEM Electric Association, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.