6 Sioux Empire Students Get $1,000 Scholarship for Volunteering

Many people are doing so many great things to help others throughout the Sioux Empire, and so many of these folks are younger individuals.

On Tuesday, (June 4)

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recognized 6 students in the Sioux Falls area for their contributions to their respective communities by awarding each student a $1,000 scholarship with their Levo Cares Program.

Dakota News Now reports that over 30 people applied by entering essays or videos illustrating the different ways they have served their communities.

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Levo started its Cares Scholarship Program in 2010, and since that time has awarded more than $39,000 in scholarships to students throughout the Sioux Falls area.

Jen McKeown with the Levo Cares Foundation told Dakota News Now, "Since we were founded in 1934, Levo has believed in giving back to our community. What better way to do that than to give back to these students who have learned the value of community service at such a young age?”

Here are the names of the six recipients of this year's scholarships:

Halle Bruflat, a recent Sioux Falls Washington High School graduate. Halle volunteered weekly in the 5th-grade classroom at Eugene Field and was a teacher’s assistant at Anne Sullivan.

Zoe Bruflat. Zoe is a nursing and Spanish major at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa. Zoe volunteered to build homes and churches in Mexico and also ministered to elementary and middle school students in Mexico.

Meredyth Broers. Meredyth is a social work major at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. Meredyth has volunteered with several different organizations including, the Boys and Girls Clubs after-school program as well as SESDAC. She also volunteers at a regional homeless shelter, a counseling center, LifeScape, and the Good Samaritan Society.

Rayann Hoppe. Rayann is from Lennox and a student at the University of South Dakota. She volunteers with the United Way in Vermillion.

Austin Reuter, who recently graduated from Tri-Valley High School. Austin volunteers at Sanford Health in the Gift Shop each week. He also volunteers for other charitable organizations including serving at the Banquet Food Mission in Sioux Falls, and also delivers Meals on Wheels through Active Generations.

And finally, Josh Weissenberger, an education major at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. He started volunteering for the Outdoor Campus in Sioux Falls at a very young age. Josh also coaches for a kindergarten softball team and youth football camps and is a server at the Banquet, and a builder at Habitat for Humanity, and Junior Achievement. He also coordinates a fundraiser each year for Cure Kids Cancer hosted by Sanford Children's Hospital.

Congratulations to all of the 2024 Levo scholarship winners!

Source: Dakota News Now

11 Things You’ll Only Understand After Living in South Dakota

From soda to pop to sloppy Joes, different parts of the country have their local quirks and language. Simple phrases can have totally different means, local events may seem weird, and food may go by a unique name.

If you're new to South Dakota here is a sort of translation guide for some odd things you may see or hear.

Gallery Credit: Ben Kuhns

Seven Mind-Blowing Wonders' of South Dakota

I think most of us have at least heard of the "Seven Wonders of the Modern World." We might not be able to rattle them off as easily as McDonald's value menu items, but chances are you've heard of at least some of them, right?

There's the Great Wall of China. Chichén Itzá, a Mayan City on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. The ancient city of Petra, in Jordan. Machu Picchu in Peru. Christ the Redeemer Statue in Rio de Janeiro. The Colosseum in Rome, and finally, the Taj Mahal in Agra, India.

Every state in the nation is known for having a series of natural wonders and signature landmarks. So, I thought I would come up with my own list of the "Seven Wonders of South Dakota."

The following is what I consider to be the signature landmarks, monuments, and natural wonders that are synonymous with the great state of South Dakota. I tried to give both sides of the state a little love while comprising this list.

You might have a few additions...

Let's get started. The Seven Wonders of South Dakota:

Filed Under: Sioux Falls, South Dakota

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