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.

Vincent Petrich

March 26, 2022 - April 1, 2022

School: Leola High School (605-439-3142)
GPA: 3.94
Activities: Vincent is active in football, basketball, band, FBLA, and involved in student government. He is the senior class president. He displays leadership qualities on and off the field and can be seen/heard on the sidelines and hallways. Vincent is motivated to complete high school and continue on his career path. He is still considering his post secondary options.

Vincent Petrich is from Leola, SD, located within FEM Electric Association, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

Ashlyn Weier

March 20, 2022 - March 26, 2022

School: Mitchell High School (6059953034)
GPA: 4
Activities: Ashlyn is involved in a number of activities including Cheer, HOSA, Student Council, and Penpals.

Ashlyn Weier is from Mitchell, SD, located within Central Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

Griffin Petersen

March 19, 2022 - March 25, 2022

School: Sully Buttes High School (6052582617)
GPA: 4
Activities: Basketball - 2 years Track - 5 years (state qualifier and state alternate) Cross Country - 5 years (state qualifier) FCCLA - 4 years (Gold - top superior rating on Sports Nutrition project) Student Council - 4 years (Class President, Region President) National Honor Society - 2 years (Chapter President) Band - 6 years (Drum major of marching band) Chorus - 6 years (All-State) Basketball Statistician - 1 year Boys State Delegate "Best of Preps" by Capital Journal

Griffin Petersen is from Onida, SD, located within Oahe Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

Jakeb Hunter

March 12, 2022 - March 18, 2022

School: Castlewood High School (6057932351)
GPA: 4
Activities: Jakeb participates in choir, band, oral interpretation, one-act plays, all-school plays and musicals, and All State Choir. His accomplishments include maintaining a 4.0 GPA through his high school career so far, getting into and attending South Dakota Honors Choir, receiving the Patrick S. Gilmore Band Award, attending State Oral Interpretation two consecutive years, and attending State One-Act four consecutive years.

Jakeb Hunter is from Castlewood, SD, located within H-D Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

Bryn Holmen

March 5, 2022 - March 11, 2022

School: Great Plains Lutheran High School (605-886-0672)
GPA: 3.99
Activities: Volleyball - captain, conference player of the year Basketball - captain, team MVP Honor Society Student Council Celebration Choir Band Presidential Award for Academic Excellence

Bryn Holmen is from Watertown, SD, located within Codington-Clark Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

Katie Gretschmann

February 26, 2022 - March 4, 2022

School: Avon High School (605-286-3291)
GPA: 3.96
Activities: volleyball (Captain, LMVC All-Conference, Great Plains All-Conference; recognized for 1,000 digs her junior year); Basketball; Track; Softball; Choir; Football Stat; Boys Basketball Stat; A-Club; Student Body Vice President; Merit and A honor rolls; Presidential Education Award; Girls State Representative; Homecoming Queen; Junior Legion Auxillary; taking dual credit courses

Katie Gretschmann is from Avon, SD, located within Bon Homme-Yankton Electric Assn., a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

Camden Roth

February 19, 2022 - February 25, 2022

School: Wagner High School (605-384-3677)
GPA: 4
Activities: Camden participates in basketball, track, baseball, band, choir, and National Honor Society. He was also in the school musical (until canceled by COVID) and also did lights and sound for the school play. Camden is also very active in his church and donates blood. He was elected by peers to be the Junior Class President and the Prom Prince.

Camden Roth is from Wagner, SD, located within Charles Mix Electric Association, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

Noah Larson

February 12, 2022 - February 18, 2022

School: Elk Point-Jefferson (605-356-5900)
GPA: 3.98
Activities: Activities Football Band Drumline Baseball Scouting NHS Student Council Jazz Band Freshman Mentor Church Youth Group Accomplishments South Dakota Eagle Scout of the Year Football letters Band letters Baseball letters NHS President Student Council President Have received 5 Superiors in Solo Ensemble

Noah Larson is from Elk Point, SD, located within Union County Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

Molly Larson

February 5, 2022 - February 11, 2022

School: Gayville-Volin High School (605-267-4476)
GPA: 4.19
Activities: Honors: • High Academic Honor Roll (9th, 10th, 11th grade) • HOBY (Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership) • Girls State Delegate School Activities and Leadership: 1. Volleyball- (7th grade-12th grade) • All Conference Award (8th-11th grade) • Defensive MVP (9th-11th grade) • Future 50 Select (10th and 11th grade) • Letter winner (7th-11th grade) • Team Captain (11th and 12th grade) 2. Basketball- (7th grade- 12th grade) • All Conference Award (7th-11th grade) • Most Valuable Player (9th-11th grade) • Raider Award (11th grade) • Letter winner (8th-11th grade) • Team Captain (9th, 10th, 11th, 12th grade) 3. Track and Field- (7th grade- 12th grade) • Raider Award (10th and 11th grade) • Letter winner (8th-11th grade) 4. Cross Country- (7th grade- 11th grade) • Raider Award (9th-11th grade) • Letter Winner (7th-11th grade) 5. Softball- (9th grade) 6. SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions)- (10-12th grade) • Leadership Team (11th grade) 7. Band- (9th-12th grade) • Letter winner (8th-11th grade) 8. Student Council- (9th, 10th, 12th grade) • Student Council President 12th grade 9. Yearbook- (9th- 12th grade) 10. Mentoring program- (9th, 10th, 12th grade) 11. Fellowship of Christian Athletes- (9th-12th grade) 12. Kindergarten Classroom Aid- 12th grade 13. Youth Group- (8th-12th grade) • 2017 ELCA Gathering in Houston • 2021 Outlaw Ranch 14. 4H- (4th-10th grade) 15. American Legion Auxiliary- (4th-12th grade) Certificates: 1. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (Basic Life Support- CPR)- Expires 1/2022 2. Certified Nursing Assistant- State of South Dakota- Expires 5/2022 Volunteer: 1. Reffing elementary and junior high basketball and volleyball games (2019-2021) 2. Baseball concessions throughout the summer (2021) 3. Vacation Bible School Volunteer (2017-2021)

Molly Larson is from Wakonda, SD, located within Clay-Union Electric Corporation, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

Marissa Maas

January 29, 2022 - February 4, 2022

School: Dakota Christian School (605-243-2211)
GPA: 3.81
Activities: Activities: Chapel Committee, Student Council, Choir, Band, Drama, Golf Accomplishments: Lettered in band, choir, drama, and Golf. Honors Choir Future Plans: undecided; interested in Special and Elementary Education

Marissa Maas is from Harrison, SD, located within Douglas Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.