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Scholar of the Week
Winners

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.

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Zoey Wohlleber

October 16, 2021 - October 22, 2021

School
Summit (605-398-6211)
GPA
3.65
Activities
Basketball - 2 time all state, ECC MVP, 4 years All Conference Volleyball 1 year track Hope Lutheran Youth Group Band 1 year Student Council Top Rated Senior Student (GPA)

Zoey Wohlleber is from South Shore, SD, located within Whetstone Valley Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

Cbauer

Connor Bauer

October 9, 2021 - October 15, 2021

School
Webster Area High School (6053453548)
GPA
3.77
Activities
Connor participates in cross country and basketball. He is in National Honor Society and Robotics. He has been on the honor roll every semester of his high school career. He also is active in band.

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

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Reagan Even

October 2, 2021 - October 8, 2021

School
Watertown High School (605-882-6316)
GPA
4
Activities
Dual-Credit Courses: Fundamentals of Speech, General Psychology, College Algebra Student Council Representative

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

Hallie Kueter

Hallie Kueter

September 25, 2021 - October 1, 2021

School
Montrose School (605-363-5025)
GPA
4.25
Activities
Activities Volleyball (4yrs) FFA (4yrs) Student Council (3yrs) National Honor Society (3yrs) One Act Play (4yrs) Oral Interp (4 yrs) bowling (1 yr) basketball (1 yr) basketball stats (1yr) band (3 yrs) Leadership Roles; FFA Chapter Reporter, FFA Chapter Secretary(2yrs) FFA Chapter President, FFA District 7 President(2yrs)Student Council Representative, Student Council Treasurer, Student Council Vice President Volunteer; Bible School Helper, Altar Server, Student Tutor Job Nursing Home CNA

Hallie Kueter is from Montrose, SD, located within Southeastern Electric Coop, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

Katesenior

Katherine Wegner

September 18, 2021 - September 24, 2021

School
Estelline School District (6058732201)
GPA
3.73
Activities
Student Council 9, 10, 11, 12 Student Council President 11, 12 Student Council Region Vice President 10 Senior Class Co-President National Honor Society 10,11,12 Girls State Volleyball 9,10,11,12 Basketball 9, 10, 11,12 Basketball All Conference 11 Track 9, 10, 11, 12 Lifeguard HOBY 10

Katherine Wegner is from Estelline, SD, located within H-D Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

As Orhs 21 22

Alivia Spilde

September 11, 2021 - September 17, 2021

School
Oldham-Ramona (605-482-8244)
GPA
3.56
Activities
National Honor Society, Student Council, Band, Oral Interp, Vollleyball, Basketball, Luther League, Softball, Coached 8U Softball for Oldham-Ramona team, Girls State 2021, Junior Auxiliary Member, Citizenship Award, and Perfect Attendance Award. Dual Credit classes taken include Fundamentals of Speech, Composition, and Computer Software with more to come in the spring.

Alivia Spilde is from Ramona, SD, located within Sioux Valley Energy, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

Dkphoto

Donovan Kreul

May 2, 2020 - May 8, 2020

School
Brookings High School (6056964124)
GPA
4.23
Activities
Donovan holds an impressive 4.23 grade point average holding a class rank of 1st in an extremely competitive and talented junior class. He represents the very best that Brookings High School has to offer: extremely high academic achievements, dedication to his activities, loyalty to his friends and teachers, and helpfulness to others. Donovan has demonstrated both the knowledge and the work ethic necessary to excel academically. He has taken a very rigorous college preparatory course schedule all through high school including courses such as Honors English I, II and III, Honors Biology, and Honors Chemistry. In addition, he has taken 6 AP Courses and earned scores of “5” on 3 AP Exams his sophomore year. He also self-studied AP Calculus BC and AP Macroeconomics and received a 5 on both exams. He has put forth his best effort and states, “I am a fervent learner and I dive deeply into whatever interests me including music, computers, and mathematics.” He is a two time Mathcounts National Qualifier. In addition to his academic success, Donovan has outshined his peers in his musical talents. From being a section leader in the BHS Marching Band to his knowledge of Music Theory, Donovan has demonstrated extreme dedication to his activities. He has put in many hours outside of rehearsals, working one-on-one with new band members on trying to develop their skills up to the group’s standard. Donovan even finds time to volunteer for various community events and organizations. He was also selected by the BHS Staff as the one male sophomore to represent BHS at the South Dakota Governor’s Luncheon. His special talents include playing guitar, building his own computer and programming games on calculators. Finally, what this piece of paper may not as easily portray is Donovan’s positive character. Along with his inner drive to do well, he is respected and liked by staff and students. Donovan describes himself as tenacious, fun-loving and studious. I couldn’t agree more. I believe that these qualities will fare him well with his many future goals for both his professional and personal life. Donovan aspires to run his own business based around computer programming. Donovan will undoubtedly be successful in his future endeavors. Awards/Honors: All State Band Qualifier (10th/11th); Superior Performance at Solo Contest (10th/11th), AP Scholar with Distinction (11th), American Invitational Mathematics Examination Qualifier, Mathcounts 2X National Qualifier School Clubs, Athletics, and Service Organizations: Marching Band (Section Leader), NHS (President), Symphonic Band, Winter Drumline, Math Club. Non-School Activities: Camelot Intermediate School Spanish Club Volunteer, Humane Society Volunteer, Swim Club Volunteer, Veterans' Day and Memorial Day Ceremonies.

Donovan Kreul is from Brookings, SD, located within Sioux Valley Energy, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

Rachael's Senior Photo

Rachael Cutshaw

April 25, 2020 - May 1, 2020

School
Deuel High School (6058742161)
GPA
3.94
Activities
National Honor Society Secretary; Varsity Volleyball Co-Captain; Varsity Golf State Qualifier; Yearbook Head Photographer; FFA State Qualifier- Floriculture/Public Speaking; Key Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes; Dakota Clovers 4-H President; Children's Church Teacher; VBS Small Group Leader; HOBY Delegate; Girls State/Journalism City Delegate

Rachael Cutshaw is from Clear Lake, SD, located within H-D Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

Kasuske, Maci

Maci Kasuske

April 18, 2020 - April 24, 2020

School
Wilmot (605-9384647)
GPA
4.04
Activities
HOBY Representative, Girls State Representative, President of National Honor Society, President of Student Council, 4 yrs. Volleyball, 3 yrs. Basketball, 4 yrs. Track

Maci Kasuske is from Twin Brooks, SD, located within Whetstone Valley Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.