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.

Eric Gillen

October 31, 2004 - November 6, 2004

School: Bridgewater High School
GPA: 3.95
Activities: National Honor Society, FFA officer, FB, BB, Track,Class Officer

Eric Gillen is from Bridgewater, SD.

Laura Lund

October 24, 2004 - October 30, 2004

School: Groton Area School District
GPA: 4.09
Activities: Cross Country Show Choir All-State Chorus Debate - Public Forum 4-H Star/Torch Drug Free Group Officer Therapeutic Riding of Tucson volunteer Church Youth Group Religious Education Teacher

Laura Lund is from Groton, SD.

Elizabeth Olson

October 17, 2004 - October 23, 2004

School: Mitchell High School
GPA: 3.976
Activities: Track, Teen-Age Republicans(officer every year), dance line, Student Council(officer every year), School Newspaper, Special Olympics, Love Feast, Salvation Army bell ringer, Parade of Lights benefit breakfast, National Honor Society

Elizabeth Olson is from Mitchell, SD.

April Christensen

October 10, 2004 - October 16, 2004

School: Parker High School
GPA: 4.23
Activities: FCCLA, cross country, volleyball, math counts, quiz bowl, track, band, national honor society

April Christensen is from Parker, SD.

Andy Cahoy

October 3, 2004 - October 9, 2004

School: Aberdeen Central High School
GPA: 4
Activities: Cross Country, Hockey, Track & Field, Drama, Music, Show Choir, Boy Scouts, Volunteer Service, Science Bowl, National Honor Society, Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership

Andy Cahoy is from Aberdeen, SD.

Amber Oftedal

September 26, 2004 - October 2, 2004

School: Rutland High School
GPA: 3.58
Activities: School activities: one-act and all-school plays, high school chorus and band, journalism staff, oral interpretation, basketball, tennis, student council representative numerous times, president of student council, vice-president of the student run Board of Directors for the Rambler Stop convenience store, Homecoming committee chairperson, Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership participant, Girls' State candidate, National Honor Society member Community service / Church activities: softball, trained a student for the Special Olympics, member of Youth Red Cross, mission trip to Mexico, worked on a variety of fundraisers

Amber Oftedal is from Wentworth, SD.

Cynthia Kranz

September 19, 2004 - September 25, 2004

School: Watertown High School
GPA: 4.189
Activities: All School Plays & Musicals, Drama Club, International Thespian Society, Debate, Yearbook Staff, Key Club, TUCKS Club, Video Club, TORCH, National Honor Society, Spanish NHS

Cynthia Kranz is from Kranzburg, SD.