Winners

November 23, 2025 - November 29, 2025

School

Wheaton Area High School (320-563-8282)

GPA

3.71

Activities

(For Grade 9-12) * American Red Cross Blood Drive Volunteer *Halloween Carnival Volunteer *Baseball Statistician *Volleyball (Captain) *EXCEL Award *"A" Honor Roll *FCCLA State Advancer *FCCLA Chapter Spark Award *FCCLA Secretary *FCCLA Treasurer *Student Council President *National Honor Society Member *Band and Choir *JO Volleyball *Summer Volleyball Camp Helper *Church Youth Group Leader *I Love to Read Month Volunteer *Employment at Rustic Edge Floral Shop and Wheaton Golf Course

Ellie Whaley is from Wheaton, MN, located within Traverse Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

November 16, 2025 - November 22, 2025

School

Hendricks Public School (507-275-3115)

GPA

4

Activities

30 dual-enrollment credits Graduating a full academic year early 24-25 FFA Vice-President 25-26 FFA President 24-25 Southwest Minnesota Regional Student Council Secretary 23-26 Student Council Secretary Drum Major 2x Honor Band Nominee State Qualifying Cross Country Team State Qualifying Milk Quality and Products CDE

Rylan Skorczewski is from Hendricks, MN, located within Lyon-Lincoln Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

November 9, 2025 - November 15, 2025

School

Castlewood High School (6057932351)

GPA

4.03

Activities

Natalie is an active and well-rounded student, deeply involved in a variety of school and community programs. She has participated in band for eight years, where she has earned numerous superior ratings and contributed to several marching band competition victories. In addition, she spent two years as part of the One-Act Play crew, helping the team win an Outstanding Set award. Leadership and service are central to Natalie’s character. She has been a proud member of the National Honor Society for three years and has served on student council for two years, consistently representing her peers with integrity and responsibility. She also has been a devoted member of the FPC youth group for four years. Athletically, Natalie is remarkably accomplished. She competes year-round in multiple sports, playing on three summer softball teams and on the Watertown Arrows fall fastpitch league, where she has been a varsity player for three years. At school, she has been a varsity starter on the softball team for three years, helping secure a 2023 state championship, 2024 state runner-up title, and a sixth-place finish in 2025. In basketball, she has been a varsity player for four years and was part of the 2023 consolation championship team. Additionally, she has contributed to the volleyball program as a dedicated student manager for three years.

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

November 2, 2025 - November 8, 2025

School

Webster Area High School (6053453548)

GPA

3.78

Activities

Willa is the Student Body President, a member of NHS, Key Club and FCCLA. Due to an injury she was unable to play volleyball this year. She is also active in dance and track. She is strong academically and is a wonderful role model to younger students. Willa has also used her artistic talents to paint murals around the school. She also works at Brewhouse and Roots in her spare time.

Willa Stern is from Webster, SD, located within Lake Region Electric Association, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

October 26, 2025 - November 1, 2025

School

Estelline School District (605-873-2201)

GPA

3.46

Activities

Football, Basketball, Track, Trap Shoot, National Honor Society, Student Council, DVC Leadership Team

Karsten Saathoff is from Estelline, SD, located within Sioux Valley Energy, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

October 19, 2025 - October 25, 2025

School

Wolsey-Wessington (605-883-4221)

GPA

4.07

Activities

Student Council President, Cross Country (4 time state qualifier), Volleyball (1000 Assists), Basketball, National Honor Society, Oral Interp , One Act Play (Superior actor award), HOSA (officer, 1st Place State in Healthy Living event), Quiz Bowl, Track (Four year state qualifier), Choir (All State, 3 years), Band

Kendal Uttecht is from Wolsey, SD, located within Dakota Energy Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

October 12, 2025 - October 18, 2025

School

Willow Lake School (6056255945)

GPA

3.99

Activities

Emmerson's main activities include basketball, football, track, and FFA. Some of accomplishments are being accepted into NHS, all-conference first team for football. Team captain for both football and basketball both junior and senior years. Currently, he is ranked 1st in his class.

Emmerson Larson is from Desmet, SD, located within Kingsbury Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

October 5, 2025 - October 11, 2025

School

Leola High School (439-3142)

GPA

4

Activities

Kaitlyn Mueller is active in both her school and community. She has taken course work in school to pursue higher education through taking dual credit course work starting her junior year. She plans to attend post secondary school to pursue Business and Sports Marketing. Outside of academics, Kaitlyn has been an active member in Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Educators Rising, and Student Council. These clubs host and help with community events such as Light-up Leola and the Chili Cookoff for FBLA, tailgating and Title 1 night for EdRising, and donations through our Student Council. She qualified this past year in both FBLA and Educators Rising to attend the national conventions. She also participates in band, choir (All State Choir member for 3 years), volleyball, basketball, and track. She has volunteered to assist during elementary physical education classes to teach young students techniques to play the sports she is involved in. Kaitlyn also has been a student coach during the summer basketball camps for grades K-5 the past two years. Kaitlyn is involved with her local 4-H club. Her volunteer activities include delivering goods to the elderly in the community during seasonal holidays and working the concession stands during events like our local 4-H Achievement Days. Kaitlyn keeps herself busy in the summer by lifeguarding at the local pool for the past three years.

Kaitlyn Mueller is from Leola, SD, located within FEM Electric Association, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

September 28, 2025 - October 4, 2025

School

Plankinton School District (6059427743)

GPA

4.01

Activities

Layce has been activity in many activities throughout her years at the Plankinton School. She has been a starter on the Mount Vernon Plankinton Titans basketball and volleyball teams. She also competes in 4H rodeo with her 3 brothers. She is the senior class persident, a member of student council, and active in FCCLA. She qualified for Nationals in FCCLA and competed in Orlando this summer. She has maintained over a 4.0 GPA in high school and works hard to find a strong balance between work on the ranch, sports, and academics.

Layce Bruns is from Plankinton, SD, located within Central Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.