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.
Annie Keeter
January 28, 2018 - February 3, 2018
- School
- Miller High School
- GPA
- 3.929
- Activities
- FCCLA (Future Career Community Leaders of America) SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) MAHB (Miller Area Health Board) 4H NHS (National Honors Society) Youth Leadership Entrepreneur Board Volleyball Junior Olympic Volleyball Basketball Track MYF (Methodist Youth Foundation) Give Back Day Co-Founder
Annie Keeter is from St. Lawrence, SD, located within Dakota Energy Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Taylor Westendorf
January 21, 2018 - January 27, 2018
- School
- Plankinton High School
- GPA
- 3.99
- Activities
- volleyball, cross country, basketball, track, softball, oral interp, science fair, youth modern woodmen organization, voice of democracy, patriot's pen, one act play, all-school play, choir, band, marching band, flag corp, catholic organization, class officer
Taylor Westendorf is from Plankinton, SD, located within Central Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Landon DeBoer
January 14, 2018 - January 20, 2018
- School
- Corsica/Stickney
- GPA
- 4.09
- Activities
- 4 year football, 4 years basketball, 4 years track, 3 years golf, 4 years FCCLA, 3 years National Honor Society, Honor roll all four years, Student council class officer four years, two years all state choir.
Landon DeBoer is from Corsica, SD, located within Douglas Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Libby Bailey
January 7, 2018 - January 13, 2018
- School
- Bridgewater Emery
- GPA
- 3.96
- Activities
- volleyball, basketball and football statistician, school play, band, NHS, student council, FCCLA
Libby Bailey is from Bridgewater, SD, located within Southeastern Electric Coop, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Dylan Northrop
December 17, 2017 - December 23, 2017
- School
- Ipswich High School
- GPA
- 4.01
- Activities
- Football, basketball, golf, NHS
Dylan Northrop is from Mina, SD, located within FEM Electric Association, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Devan Kleven
December 10, 2017 - December 16, 2017
- School
- Sully Buttes High School
- GPA
- 3.974
- Activities
- Football Basketball Golf Baseball Student Council 4-H FCCLA
Devan Kleven is from Onida, SD, located within Oahe Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Baylee Enander
December 3, 2017 - December 9, 2017
- School
- Hitchcock-Tulare School
- GPA
- 4.072
- Activities
- Volleyball, Basketball, Track, FFA, Student Council, Mentor-Mentee Advisor, Football Statistician, FCCLA and member of the science quiz bowl team.
Baylee Enander is from Frankfort,, SD, located within Northern Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Olivia Christensen
November 26, 2017 - December 2, 2017
- School
- Lake Preston
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- Volleyball Oral Interpretation Competitive Cheerleading One Act Play Basketball Choir Sideline Football Cheer All School Musical Sideline Basketball Cheer Show Choir LYO Band Marching Band Jazz Band
Olivia Christensen is from Lake Preston, SD, located within Kingsbury Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
MIchael Sees
November 19, 2017 - November 25, 2017
- School
- Irene-Wakonda School
- GPA
- 4.05
- Activities
- Extracurricular Activities: 1. Cross Country ? Ran varsity and lettered all three years of high school. 2. Track ? Lettered all three years of high school. 3. Baseball ? Played the summer of 9th and 10th year. 4. Bass All State Delegate 9th,11th, and 12th year. 5. Lettered in choir 9th and 11th year. 6. In 9th was an alternate for Tenor SD Jr. High Mixed Honor Chorus. 7. Sang in the 2017 Boys State Choir. 8. Performed in One Act 9th year. 9. Perfect attendance all three years. 10. Made A-Honor roll all three years 11. I-W Academic letter award all three years. 12. Became part of the IW Honor Society in 2017. 13. GPA 4.026, 28 ACT. 14. Went to 2017 Boys State, was an alderman in the city of Dallas. 15. US Senate Nominee both 11th and 12th years. 16. Nominated for Sophomore Leadership at USD. 17. Was a junior and senior class representative in student council. 18. Enjoy spending time reading at home. 19. Spends time working full-time at Broom Tree Retreat Center and Family Camp during the summer. Community: 1. Have spent 10 hours annually in the St. Agnes Sigel church cleaning and participating in soup kitchens. 2. Prepared and served meals at the Yankton banquet for those in need. 3. Spent 100+ hours mowing and maintaining the cemetery at St. Agnes Sigel.
MIchael Sees is from Irene, SD, located within Bon Homme-Yankton Electric Assn., a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.
Madisen Martinez
November 12, 2017 - November 18, 2017
- School
- Vermillion High School
- GPA
- 4
- Activities
- National Honors Society Varsity Basketball Varsity Track and Field Student Council Random Acts of Kindness Students Against Destructive Decisions Hugh O'Brian (HOBY) Girls State
Madisen Martinez is from Vermillion, SD, located within Clay-Union Electric Corporation, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.