Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives in eastern South Dakota and western Minnesota honored some of the area’s most impressive high school seniors on Saturday, April 18, during the 24th Annual Touchstone Energy Scholar of the Year Banquet held at the Dakota Prairie Playhouse on the campus of Dakota State University.
Plankinton senior Layce Bruns, daughter of Rustin and Kama Bruns, was one of 32 seniors chosen throughout the 2025-2026 school year as the Touchstone Energy Scholar of the Week. It’s a program that recognizes students for academic achievement, extracurricular involvement and community service. The students are featured in weekly segments on Dakota News Now television and they each receive a $250 scholarship.
Author and former S.D. Legislator V.J. Smith was the keynote speaker at the banquet. Dakota News Now multimedia journalist Hannah Ekwall served as the master of ceremonies.
For information on the Scholar of the Week program, visit yourcooppower.com. Senior nominations are accepted from faculty each school year during the fall semester.