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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.

Leola%2Ddee

Katie Klipfel

March 26, 2006 - April 1, 2006

School
Leola High School
GPA
3.849
Activities
Katie is actively involved with many school and community related activities. She has received many high honors in both band and chorus. She has recently participated in All State Orchestra. She is also involved with her local church youth group, Future Business Leaders of America and the Character Counts Team. The Character Counts team meets bimonthly with K-6 age students and promotes the importance of 6 character traits: trustworthiness, respect, responsiblity, fairness, caring and citizenship. Katie is exceptional at teaching elementary age students the importance of good character. She has also received many high honors at the state level for FBLA. She has had the opportunity to compete at the national level of FBLA as well. Katie works well with all ages within the Leola community. She spends much of her time volunteering for projects associated with bettering the community and other's lives.

Katie Klipfel is from Leola, SD.

Allisonlafave%2Ddesmet

Allison LaFave

March 19, 2006 - March 25, 2006

School
DeSmet High School
GPA
4
Activities
Natural Helpers,Senate Page for Tom Daschle,SD Senate Page 2006,Drama,Girls Stater, DAR Candidate, Accepted to Harvard,NHS

Allison LaFave is from DeSmet, SD.

Groton%2Dchelsey

Chelsey Luecke

March 12, 2006 - March 18, 2006

School
Groton Area School
GPA
4.1
Activities
piano show choir band girls volleyball track

Chelsey Luecke is from Groton, SD.

Taylorolson%2Darlington

Taylor Olson

March 5, 2006 - March 11, 2006

School
Arlington High School
GPA
3.48
Activities
Taylor is involved in the following organizations and activities: National Honor Society, Boys State, FFA, football, basketball, baseball, one act play, band, marching band and pep band.

Taylor Olson is from Bruce, SD.

Beresford%2Djoni

Joni Strom

February 26, 2006 - March 4, 2006

School
Beresford High School
GPA
3.993
Activities
Band, Chorus, All-State Choir, Cross Country, Track, FFA

Joni Strom is from Beresford, SD.

Adrian

David McCarthy

February 19, 2006 - February 25, 2006

School
Adrian High School
GPA
4.086
Activities
Concert Choir, All School Play, Speech, KB, National Honor Society, Math League, Concert Band, Marching Band, One Act Play, Jazz Band

David McCarthy is from Adrian, MN.

Aberdeen%2Dkevin

Kevin Kelly

February 12, 2006 - February 18, 2006

School
Aberdeen Central High School
GPA
3.632
Activities
jazz band, show choir, vocal jazz, student senate, SADD, drama

Kevin Kelly is from Aberdeen, SD.

Marion%2Danderson

Blake Andersen

February 5, 2006 - February 11, 2006

School
Marion School District
GPA
3.63
Activities
Football Basketball Track Legion Baseball Member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes Member of Church of God in Marion

Blake Andersen is from Marion, SD.

Wakonda

Robert Gregoire

January 29, 2006 - February 4, 2006

School
Wakonda High School
GPA
3.42
Activities
Academics: A & B Honor Roll(9,10,11,&12) Member of the National Honor Society Yankton Press & Dakotan A+ Student Academic Letter Winner Currently taking AP English through N.S.U. Honors and Awards Jazz Band (9, 10, 11, ) Master of Ceremonies at Coronation (11) Good Attendance Award (9, 10, 11, ) Athletics Track (9*,10*,11*,& 12*), Team MVP Tri-Valley Conference Champion Region & State Champion B.B. (9,10*,11*, ) All-Conference Academic Team (11, ) Cross Country (9*,10*,11*,& 12*) Team MVP Tri-Valley Conference Champion Region 3B & 3A Champion State "B" Champion the last 2 years. * Lettered in sport. Leadership Team Captain (11 & 12) Class Officer (10, & 12) Student Council (9, 10, & 12). Community Service St. Patrick's Church Youth Group (9,10,11, & 12) Prepared food for & served at The Banquet in Yankton, SD (9,10, 11, ) Town Clean Up Referee for Elem. B.B. games Planned for and helped construct the outdoor Eckert Family Memorial at Wakonda School (summer of 2005).

Robert Gregoire is from Wakonda, SD.

Redfield%2Damy

Amy Appletoft

January 22, 2006 - January 28, 2006

School
Redfield High School
GPA
3.538
Activities
Cross Country, Band, Chorus, Safety Council, Flag Corps, Student Mentoring, Class Play, FCA, Good News Club Director, Prayer Leader, Planned and Directed church play, Vacation Bible School volunteer counselor, church youth group president, sign language interpreter for church, Cambodia youth mission, Central American youth missions

Amy Appletoft is from Redfiled, SD.