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.
Katie Wollschlager
October 14, 2018 - October 20, 2018
- School
- Millbank High School (6054325546)
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Katie is a member of the Milbank Honor Society, Milbank Honor Roll. Katie has participated in the South Dakota Big Idea Competition, and World Food Prize. Katie is a member of the TATU (Teens Against Tobacco Usage) Katie is a player on the Milbank Volleyball, Basketball and Track team. Katie is also a FFA member and Milbank Choir.
Katie Wollschlager is from LaBolt, SD, located within Whetstone Valley Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Morgan Roe
October 7, 2018 - October 13, 2018
- School
- Florence High School (605-758-2412)
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Track, Basketball, Choir, and 4-h
Morgan Roe is from Florence, SD, located within Codington-Clark Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Jack Olson
September 30, 2018 - October 6, 2018
- School
- Rutland High School (605-586-4352)
- GPA
- 3
- Activities
- 3.633 GPA, National Honor Society, National History Day National Competitor (Washington D.C.), cross-country, basketball, track, Empower representative, student council, all-school play, one-act play, band, chorus, FFA.
Jack Olson is from Rutland, SD, located within Sioux Valley Energy, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Lexie Larsen
September 23, 2018 - September 29, 2018
- School
- Lake Preston (605-847-4455)
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- 9-12 Student Activities listed below: Band, Chorus, Comp Cheer, Track and Field, GBB, VB, Marching Band, Show Choir, FFA, Oral Interp, Sideline Cheer, Student Council Rep, Senior Class President, President of National Honor Society, Blue and Gold school newspaper writer Accomplishments below: Multiple top student awards in many of her HS classes, Citizenship Award winner, Girls State attendee, Multiple honor accomplishments throughout her HS career Sports below: Most improved in VB, Best Defensive player last year in GBB, Most Inspirational in VB, Go-Getter in Cheer, Diver Award in GBB Volunteerism below: Lutheran Youth Organization member, teaches Sunday School to pre-school, works at Maynard's grocery store and Arlington Nursing home, helps out on family farm, babysitting
Lexie Larsen is from Lake Preston, SD, located within Kingsbury Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Abby Dethlefsen
September 16, 2018 - September 22, 2018
- School
- Corsica-Stickney High School (6057702979)
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Volleyball-participant four years, basketball-one year participant, track and field-participant four years, student council- four year participant positions include secretary, president, treasurer, FCCLA-3 year participant, National Honor Society-2 year participant secretary, 4-H- 9 year participant and current president for Stickney chapter, Farmer's Union-junior advisor council, and server for St. Mary's Catholic church in Stickney for nine years.
Abby Dethlefsen is from Stickney, SD, located within Central Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
FAITH TYLER
September 9, 2018 - September 15, 2018
- School
- Wagner (605-384-5426)
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Volleyball- LMVC all tournament 2016 & 2017, SESD All-tournament 2016& 2017, Class A All- State 2nd Team 2017, Team MVP 2017, Basketball, Track (State Qualifier 2016 &2018), Student Council, FCA
FAITH TYLER is from Wagner, SD, located within Charles Mix Electric Association, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Kim Weber
September 2, 2018 - September 8, 2018
- School
- Parkston High School (6059283368)
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Band, Choir, National Honor Society, Volleyball, Outstanding Freshman Science Student, Outstanding First Year Choir Member, Perfect Attendance, All State Chorus, Outstanding Sophomore Science Student Girls State, FCA
Kim Weber is from Parkston, SD, located within Southeastern Electric Coop, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Gracelyn Fast
May 6, 2018 - May 12, 2018
- School
- James Valley Christian School
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Student Body President Student Council Cheerleading Captain Band-letter winner Yearbook team member Cross Country Team Manager Plays piano for church praise team JVC Student Ministries Active in church youth group tutoring elementary students
Gracelyn Fast is from Iroquois, SD, located within Dakota Energy Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Lincoln Turman
April 29, 2018 - May 5, 2018
- School
- T.F. Riggs High School
- GPA
- 3.9
- Activities
- NHS, Cross Country, Wrestling, Student Senate, NHS, Student Body Vice President
Lincoln Turman is from Pierre, SD, located within Oahe Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Sadie Vander Wal
April 22, 2018 - April 28, 2018
- School
- Northwestern High School
- GPA
- 4.067
- Activities
- Cheerleading, FFA, Oral Interp, Drama Club, FBLA
Sadie Vander Wal is from Brentford, SD, located within Northern Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.