What does it take to be a Touchstone Energy Scholar of the Week? It's not just about grades or athletic ability. It takes a well-rounded individual that excels in the classroom and the community.
Touchstone Energy Cooperatives and Dakota News Now have joined together to recognize the achievements of high school seniors throughout the region. "Touchstone Energy Scholar of the Week" has been celebrating the achievements of high school seniors since 2002. Recipients are highly motivated high school seniors who excel in the classroom and community. This program was founded on the four pillars of Touchstone Energy: Integrity, Accountability, Innovation and a Commitment to Community. For more information on the program please call your local Touchstone Energy cooperative.
If there are outstanding seniors in your school that you would like to recognize, please nominate them here.
This Week's Scholar
Cooper Pommer
Willow Lake School
Cooper will be featured on Dakota News Now during the 6:00PM news on Monday, December 1 and again on the Dakota News Now morning news on Tuesday, December 2 between 6:00AM and 7:00AM.
HANNAH HEIMAN
March 16, 2025 - March 22, 2025
- School
- Clark School District (605 532-3605)
- GPA
- 4.08
- Activities
- ACTIVITIES Volleyball National Honor Society Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) Students Against Destructive Decisions(SADD) Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Student Council Softball Youth group Tri-M Music Society ACCOMPLISHMENTS SD FCCLA President Region IV FCCLA President FCCLA Chapter President Girls State Governor All State Choir member Junior Snow Queen runner-up Chorus Directors Award National FCCLA 2nd place Parli Pro
HANNAH HEIMAN is from Clark, SD, located within Codington-Clark Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Hannah Heiman
March 16, 2025 - March 22, 2025
- School
- Clark School District (605532-3605)
- GPA
- 4.08
- Activities
- ACTIVITIES Volleyball Softball Tri-M Music Society Family, Career, Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) Students Against Destructive Behavior (SADD) National Honor Society (NHS) Student Council Youth Group Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) ACCOMPLISHMENTS State FCCLA President SD Girls State Governor Junior Snow Queen runner-up FCCLA Region President FCCLA Chapter President NHS President All State Choir FCCLA 2nd Place National Parli Procedure winner Volleyball Most Improved and Most Valuable Player Academic All-State Award Director's Award (Choir)
Hannah Heiman is from Clark, SD, located within Codington-Clark Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Blaize Larson
March 9, 2025 - March 15, 2025
- School
- Webster Area High School (6053453548)
- GPA
- 4.1
- Activities
- Blaize is involved in Oral Interp, FCCLA, Robotics, Wrestling Stat, National Honor Society and Student Council. He has been a 3 time State Oral Interp participant and 1 time Medal Winner. He is FCCLA chapter president, has won state and national competitions, and been a officer on a state outreach team. He is Robotics Head this year and has been notebook head and made it to Robotics Nationals 3 times with his team. He is the senior class president. He also was a foreign exchange student 2024 Spring semester from January 10 until June 24, he lived in Malansac, France with a host family.
Blaize Larson is from Webster, SD, located within Lake Region Electric Association, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Max Schuelke
March 2, 2025 - March 8, 2025
- School
- Milbank High School (605-432-5546)
- GPA
- 4.1
- Activities
- Activities & Acheivements Debate Participated: 9, 10, 11, 12 LD Coach and Captian Awards - LD Debate State Champion | 11th - LD Debate Runner-up | 10th - National Extemp Debate 32/900 finish | 11th - Extemp State Finalist | 9th, 10th, 11th - Attended Nationals | 10th, 11th - Fine Arts Student of the Month | 9th HOSA Participated: 11, 12 Awards - Biomedical Debate State Champion | 11th - Attended Nationals | 11th Educators Rising Participated: 11th, 12th Founding Member, State Officer Awards - Creative Lecture State Champion | 11th - Creative Lecture National Champion | 11th Theatre Participated: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th Head of Costumes, Sound, Lights, Various Roles Awards - Fine Arts Student of the Month | 10th Student Council Particpiated: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th Class Rep, Vice President, State Secretary Sunday School Participated: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th Sunday School Teacher NSU Math Competition Participated: 9th, 10th, 11th Awards - Honorable Mention | 10th & 11th
Max Schuelke is from Revillo, SD, located within Whetstone Valley Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Maxwell Kulesa
February 23, 2025 - March 1, 2025
- School
- Ipswich Public School (605-426-6571)
- GPA
- 4.25
- Activities
- FBLA, Band, Football, Basketball, Track, NHS
Maxwell Kulesa is from Ipswich, SD, located within FEM Electric Association, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Gretchen Dinger
February 16, 2025 - February 22, 2025
- School
- Groton Area High School (605.397.8381)
- GPA
- 4.11
- Activities
- Gretchen is very active in my school based and non school based activities. School based activities: Varsity Soccer letter winner, Choreographer, Caption, and member of the Color Guard, FCCLA, Flex Band, Pep Band, Concert Band, team manager for volleyball, Show choir tech crew, Dynamics dance team, and member of the HOSA organization. Non School based activities: Active member at Emmanuel Lutheran Church which involves serving coffee and reading. Also a member of the Luther League at Emmanuel. She is also a volunteer volleyball coach for a elementary age team. Honors & Awards: High School All State Band (Sophomore & Junior year), National Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society, Honorable Mention for the Big Idea Competition, Class president, Jr. Snow Queen State Place winner, Girls’ State Representative, Daughters of the American Revolution good citizen award, and National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist. Paid experiences: Full time summer nanny, life guard, swimming lesson instructor, and Assistant at BK Custom Tees and more.
Gretchen Dinger is from Groton, SD, located within Northern Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Owan Watson
February 9, 2025 - February 15, 2025
- School
- Sunshine Bible Academy (605-853-3071)
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Owan has lettered in basketball three years and track two years. He has also participated in Cross Country. This year he will be a 5th year participant in All-State Chorus. He has been selected to participate in the Wayne State Festival of Honor Bands four times. He has lettered in One-Act Play, Spring Play and Oral Interp. He received Outstanding Actor recognition at Region Oral Interp two years. He has been Section leader in choir all through high school, was named SBA's Outstanding Instrumentalist, Outstanding Vocalist and Outstanding Oral Interper. He has received multiple Superior ratings at Small Group Music Contest and a Superior at Large Group Music Contest. He has been Vice President of his class for three years. This year he started a weekly podcast to recap SBA's athletic events for the week.
Owan Watson is from Miller, SD, located within Dakota Energy Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Sheridan Voorhees
February 2, 2025 - February 8, 2025
- School
- Sully Buttes High School (605 258 2618)
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Participate in Band, Jazz Band, Chorus, FCCLA, Student Council, National Honor Society, Oral Interpretation, Drama, Volleyball, Basketball, Yearbook, Girls State Delegate, and Sully Buttes History Club.
Sheridan Voorhees is from Onida, SD, located within Oahe Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Layke Wold
January 26, 2025 - February 1, 2025
- School
- Chester Area (6054892411)
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- A Honor Roll | 4 years Honor Society | 2 years Class of 2025 Vice President | 2 years Yearbook | 4 years Varsity Football | 4 years Captain Volunteers to referee youth football games Madison Daily Leader Player of the Week (x2) Varsity Basketball | 6 years Also played summer basketball programs, Sacred Hoops (4 years) and SD Identity (1 year) Created and ran an individual/small group summer training program for younger kids wanting to improve their skills Varsity Golf | 2 years Band | 4 years Choir | 4 years Definitely enjoys being hands-on with the younger kids, he’s come full circle looking up to those upper classmen that were in his elementary classrooms Homecoming Royalty Dual Credit Courses | several taken to jumpstart his college career
Layke Wold is from Chester, SD, located within Sioux Valley Energy, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Nicholas Schmitz
January 19, 2025 - January 25, 2025
- School
- Elk Point-Jefferson (6057302424)
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Football Basketball Track National Honors Society Helping Coach Little Huskies football in the fall Academics-Honor Roll Husky Award for Football Dak 12 Conference All Conference Football Award 24-25 SDFBCA Academic All-State Award Lettering in: Football,Basketball,Track, Academics Apart of the State Basketball Team 2023
Nicholas Schmitz is from Elk Points, SD, located within Union County Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.