SDSCA FALL NEWSLETTER
Issue 1
SDSCA
Fall Newsletter
September 2016
By Kaitlyn Hellman
YOUR 2016-2017 SOUTH DAKOTA STATE STUDENT COUNCIL BOARD
IN THIS ISSUE
Letter from the President
By
Jacob West
Welcome to the 2016-17 School
year, SDSCA!
I hope everyone has had a great
start to their school year, I know I
have! The board and I have been
working hard on getting this year’s
convention squared away, and
there is lots of cool new things in
store! The big highlight of changes
this year is going to be the new
venue, the Rushmore Plaza Civic
Center in Rapid City. It is going to
serve us well, especially for the
30th Anniversary of our State
Convention!
I hope that all of you can agree with
me on this, but I think South Dakota
is ready to take our Student
Councils to the next level and
become top notch in the country!
This last June when I made the trip
to Portland, Oregon to represent
South Dakota at the Nation Student
Council Convention, I gained a lot
of good knowledge and met a lot of
awesome people! I want to spread
this knowledge to all of you
throughout the state, and hopefully,
some of you will have the spark to
turn our Student Councils of South
Dakota into some of the best in the
country! I believe that the state
board doesn’t stand to tell you what
to do and follow, but we are here to
give you the guidelines to doing
something bigger. After Student
Council, most of you go to the real
world, and why not take the chance
of becoming something better here
while you have to opportunity?
In This Issue
Letter from the President, Region
Information, National Council of
Excellence, Fall Project – Fundraising for
Children’s Miracle Network, State
Registration, and State Theme!
To wrap this up, I just want to say
again that I am honored to be
serving all of you this year. I can
guarantee that this year will be a
great one, and I can’t wait to see
you all at the State Convention
again in April 2017!
Goodbye for now!
Jacob West
Get to Know Us
Learn more about your state student
council board members before you see
them on April 9th, 10th, and 11th!
SDSCA FALL NEWSLETTER | Issue 1
Region Workshops
The theme for the region workshop is:
“The Frontier: Lead Us West”
Every fall, each region puts on a Region Workshop.
These workshops help provide each individual student
council attending with more resources, ideas, and gives
the students an opportunity to learn more about their fell
student council leaders, as well as provide a sense of
community.
Schools do NOT need to be a member of SDSCA to
attend a Region Student Council Workshop, nor do they
need to attend the workshop designated for their region.
Each school has the opportunity to attend the Workshop
site that is the most convenient for their location and
calendar. In order to plan the workshops to the best of
their abilities, region advisors must receive school
registration by the deadline according to that region.
Schools may bring as many students as they wish and
are responsible for paying registration fees for the total
number of students and advisors registered. No refunds
will be given.
There is a fee of $5 for each student and adult in
attendance, and lunch is not provided by the workshops.
Registration forms are available on the SDHSAA website.
Your State Student Council hopes to
see everyone at their region workshops!
DIDN’T COVER YOUR QUESTION?
For more information on State
Student Council, awards, and
region meetings, head over to
the SDHSAA website.
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Locations and Information
REGION: Big Sioux Region
Send form to: Kelsey Lovseth
Brookings
Registration Deadline: Oct. 10
Workshop Date: Oct. 19
Workshop Site: Brookings
REGION: Capitol Region
Send Form To: Carol Birgen
Lyman High School
Registration Deadline: Oct. 8
Workshop Date: Oct. 17
Workshop Site: Lyman High School
REGION: James River Region
Send form to: Tracy Chase
McCook Central High School
Registration Deadline: Oct. 3
Workshop Date: Oct. 12
Workshop Site: Salem National
Guard Armory
REGION: Northern Lakes Region
Send form to: Julie Rieckman
Estelline High School
Registration Deadline: Oct. 12
Workshop Date: Oct. 21
Workshop Site: Henry High School
REGION: Rushmore Region
Send form to: Jolene Kayser
Sturgis Community Center
Registration Deadline: Oct. 25
Workshop Date: Nov. 2
Workshop Site: Sturgis Community
Center
REGION: Spirit Point Region
Send form to: Becky Tasa
Yankton High School
Registration Deadline: Oct. 4
Workshop Date: October 12
Workshop Site: Yankton HS
REGION: Upper Missouri Region
Send Form To: Deanna Fischbach
Faith High School
Registration Deadline: Oct. 17
Workshop Date: Oct. 26
Workshop Site: Mobridge Event
Center
SDSCA FALL NEWSLETTER | Issue 1
National Council
of Excellence
The National Council of
Excellence is similar to
SDSCA’s Outstanding
Student Council. Sponsored
by the National Association
of Student Councils, it
provides an opportunity for
your student council to
evaluate its projects,
programs, and leadership
abilities while earning
national recognition! Three
South Dakota schools
received the gold award last
year. Congratulations to the
students and advisors
involved at Lincoln High
School, Roosevelt High
School, and Washington
High School! If your school
is a member of NASC or
wishes to become part of
NASC, encourage your
fellow student council
members and advisors to
check out www.nasc,us to
participate in 2017! The
deadline is February 15th.
We also encourage you to
check out the Outstanding
Student Council Award for
2017 at SDHSAA.com
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The Fall Project for 2016 is up to your student council!
Use your best ideas to fundraise for Children’s Miracle
Network. Awards for money raised will be presented at
the State Convention in April. Don’t forget to send
pictures and information to [email protected] or
[email protected] so we can share them
on our Facebook page and in the next newsletter!
Outstanding Student
CouncilTime Period Covered:
March 1, 2016 – February
28, 2017
Deadline When to Submit
Report: By March 10, 2017
Send This Form To:
[email protected]
om
Give your student council
and advisor some credit
and apply!
This could be your Student Council!
SDSCA FALL NEWSLETTER | Issue 1
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State Student Council Board 2016-2017
Brooks Bowman
Nickname: I don’t have a nickname, but I am also referred to as "Dad" by my
children!
State Student Council Position: SDHSAA Representative
Favorite StuCo Memory: Relaxing on our dinner cruise after our SDSCA
summer meeting.
Role Model and Why: SDHSAA Executive Director, Wayne Carney. He is
brilliant!
Favorite Movie: Interstellar
Favorite Music: Dave Mathews Band
Favorite Part of Summer 2016: Moving into my new house!
School Involvement: All-State Chorus & Orchestra, All-State Band, All-State
Jazz Band, State Oral Interp, State One-Acts, Journalism, State Visual Arts,
State Debate & Individual Events, State Show Choir, Student Council
Future Plans: I plan to continue working with the SDHSAA and enhance the
Fine Arts activities in SD.
I am a former band director and trumpet player. I have performed all over the
U.S. for crowds of over 20,000 people. I have 2 rather anti-social cats.
Gary Linn
State Student Council Position: SDSCA state Executive Director
Favorite StuCo Memory: My 1st National Conference in Oklahoma City
Favorite Movie: Braveheart
Favorite Music: Adele
Favorite Part of Summer 2016: NASC in Portland and fishing in Alaska
School Involvement: Student council advisor and Prom advisor
Future Plans: Stay involved with Student Council on every level
I love traveling the world!
George Seiler
Nickname: Mr. Seiler
State Student Council Position: Student council administration representative
Favorite Memory: When the Tarheels lost on a last second shot in the NCAA
championship and the place went quiet.
Role Model and Why: My dad. I know it is cliché but, he is very knowledgeable
and I followed in his footsteps with my career, because of my respect for him
and the profession of education.
Favorite Movie: Major League
Favorite Music: Indie rock
Favorite Part of Summer 2016: Seeing the Redwoods in Jedediah State Park
in California.
School Involvement: I am the superintendent and high school principal. I feel I
am pretty involved in the school.
Future Plans: Get my doctorate in Superintendent leadership and continue
being a superintendent.
Bears eat beats. Bears beats Battlestar Galactica!
SDSCA FALL NEWSLETTER | Issue 1
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Jacob West
Nickname: Westy
State Student Council Position: President
Favorite StuCo Memory: My favorite StuCo memory has to be during the
2015-16 State Convention in Sioux Falls. While everyone else at the convention
was staying in hotels, Sturgis's advisor was able to get us some rooms at the
local National Guard Base. It was a very patriotic experience.
Role Model and Why: My role model is Elon Musk. For those of you that don't
know him, he is the inventor of Paypal, Tesla Motors, and SpaceX. Musk is a
person of high character and generosity, but still challenges himself at the next
level. I aspire to have his character in my own life.
Favorite Movie: Money Monsters
Favorite Music: My favorite artists are Jon Bellion and Coldplay. But, who
doesn't like to listen to Ocean Man by Ween every once in a while?
Favorite Part of Summer 2016: My favorite part of the summer was the DIY
overly-extravagant fireworks display I built with my Uncle. Let's just say that the
display was a full 360 degree and in-your-face experience...
School Involvement: I am involved in Sturgis Youth Leadership Team,
National Honor Society, Student Council (Obviously!), Baseball, Choir and
Drama.
Future Plans: Right now I am torn between going to the School of Mines and
getting a degree in Computer Science and Engineering, or going into the Navy's
Cyber Security program. I also work for Powerhouse Dance DJs and Sound
Productions, giving me the option to take the event production route someday if
I choose. Regardless of what I pick, I am no doubt going to have a few startups
of my own some day!
There is a group of Triceratops that were found on my family's ranch that were
named after me and my brothers (Westysaurus Rex). They will be on display in
Holland in the spring of 2018.
Anneliese Taggart
Nickname: Annie
State Student Council Position: Vice President
Favorite StuCo Memory: Teaming up with USD’s Dance Marathon Team and
organizing the first ever High School Dance Marathon in South Dakota!
Role Model: My aunt Jeanne Ives – she is a Republican Representative for the
state of Illinois and inspires me every day with her intelligence, courage, and
passion for bettering our nation.
Favorite Movie: The Blind Side
Favorite Music: Pop
Favorite Part of Summer 2016: Touring Washington DC on the Youth Tour with
45 other students from South Dakota!
School Involvement: Dance Team member, Show Choir member, Debate Team
Captain, President/Founder of VHS Students for Life, Yearbook Section Editor
Future Plans: I hope to attend Notre Dame University or the University of Dallas
and attain a double major in Political Science and Mass Communications.
I have a cousin that lives in Seville, Spain; the Missouri River is in my backyard.
SDSCA FALL NEWSLETTER | Issue 1
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Aleah Burggraff
Nickname: Alebo
State Student Council Position: Secretary
Favorite StuCo Memory: Getting hypnotized on stage and throwing my shoe
into the audience or running for secretary and giving a speech in front of a
thousand people.
Role Model and Why: Lorde. Lorde came from a small town in New Zealand that
nobody knows about and by doing what she loves turned writing her incredibly
metaphoric poems into number one song hits and being able to break free from
her small town all the while never losing sight of who she is, what she stands for,
and her personal style.
Favorite Movie: Insidious
Favorite Music: My favorite kind of music is definitely indie and my favorite song
right now is I Went Too Far by Aurora
Favorite Part of Summer 2016: My favorite part of the summer was going up to
the lake with my friends and just being able to hang out
School Involvement: At my school try to be very involved! I’m my local student
council’s Vice President, local FBLA’s historian, chorus vice president, wrestling
manager, football cheerleader, one act play, all school play, NHS and oral
interpretation
Future Plans: Right now I’m not sure what college I want to attend but I know
that I want to study sign language interpreting.
I really love to be involved and active in my school in any way possible. I have to
balance all of my extra school activities with my two jobs at Olive Garden and
Walmart where I get to use sign language a lot. I come from a family of 9 and I’m
the second oldest of 7. I collect vinyl records and my favorite animal ever is a
shark!
Amber Hulse
Nickname: "Rae Rae"
State Student Council Position: Treasurer
Favorite StuCo Memory: Making the video for last year's entrance to the
convention
Role Model and Why: Karlie Kloss because she's a supermodel and a super
successful engineer
Favorite Movie: Legally Blonde
Favorite Music: Jon Bellion & Yiruma
Favorite Part of Summer 2016: Traveling all over the United States on a
college tour
School Involvement: Band, Choir, NHS, Football, Track, Drama
Future Plans: To attend a college on the east coast, or possibly a military
service academy (Air Force or Navy)
I like to hunt, I play four instruments, I'm extremely sarcastic, and I am the only
person returning to the board this year from last!
SDSCA FALL NEWSLETTER | Issue 1
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Kaitlyn Hellman
Nickname: Kale
State Student Council Position: State Reporter
Favorite StuCo Memory: The chaos of putting together Bennett County
homecoming.
Role Model: My role model is actor and director Joseph Gordon-Levitt because
he is incredibly talented and humble and he has kept his personal life his own
rather than the worlds. He is also a feminist, and I know there is a negative
connotation to that word, but he is not afraid to be himself, and I idolize that.
Favorite Movie: Inception, directed by Christopher Nolan.
Favorite Music: Fleetwood Mac, Halsey, Years & Years, the 1975, and Panic!
At the Disco. My favorite song is Soldier On by The Temper Trap.
Favorite Part of Summer 2016: I went to Boston to attend the National
Congress of Future Scientists and Technologists and I saw the ocean for the
first time in my life! It was an incredible experience, and I am very fortunate to
have had the opportunity to be in the presence of so many amazing young men
and women.
School Involvement: I am the current president of my school’s National Honor
Society and JAG chapter, a member of Student Council, Key Club, Drama Club,
Science Club, and I am on varsity golf and basketball. This will be my fifth year
at All-State Choir, and my third year representing JAG South Dakota in
Washington DC for Public Speaking.
Future plans: I plan to go to college to major in mechanical engineering, minor
in computer science, and get involved with robotics and artificial intelligence. Or
maybe I’ll act. My passion for both STEM and the humanities makes career
decisions confusing.
I have an older twin sister, Jocelyn, who is older by 22 minutes, I write slam
poetry, love reading (my favorite book is The Secret History by Donna Tart), and
I love to sing and act! Some of my favorite shows are Game of Thrones,
American Horror Story, Stranger Things, and Sense 8. I spend most of my free
time playing the Dragon Age trilogy.
Tristen Schofield
Nickname: Chuck
State Student Council Position: Sergeant-at-Arms/Parliamentarian
Favorite StuCo Memory: Giving my campaign speech in front of the convention
Role Model: Jim Carrey, because he can turn any situation into something funny,
no matter how bad it might be.
Favorite Movie: Castaway
Favorite music: 80s Country music
Summer memory: Wall Celebration Dance and Parade
School Involvement: I worked the petting zoo at the Central States Fair for
the District V FFA.
Future Plans: I plan to go to Basic Training this coming summer, and attend West
Point.
I write my own music, play guitar, and have spent 6 straight summers going to
band camp.
SDSCA FALL NEWSLETTER | Issue 1
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Abigail Keith
Nickname: Abby, Big Gail or Gail (short for Abigail)
State Student Council Position: Big Sioux Region Representative
Favorite StuCo Memory: Running around Tri-Valley at our stuco lock-in at 2 in
the morning for a scavenger hunt.
Role Model: Rora Blue for raising awareness of bullying and making it possible
for people to express themselves through her art/photography.
Favorite Movie: Ferris Buehler's Day Off!!!!
Favorite Music: Machine Gun Kelly (I’m so sorry I’m so weird I have a weird
crush on him)
Favorite Part of Summer 2016: Going to California and seeing the giant
redwoods.
School Involvement: StuCo president, FBLA, FFA, 4H, FCA, Volleyball, Golf,
Girl's State Delegate
Future Plans: I plan on going to SDSU and majoring in registered nursing to
become a nurse in dermatology!
This is my 3rd year at Tri-Valley and I have moved a total of 9 times in my 18
years of life! Also for sure highlight of my life is bumping into Steven Tyler while
he was running to his motorcycle in Montana and he said "sorry little girl" and I
fell on my butt. :)
Hannah Hight
Nickname: Hannah Banana
State Student Council Position: Capitol Region Representative
Favorite StuCo Memory: Hearing that one girl uncontrollably laugh during last
year’s speaker.
Role Model and Why: My grandma, when everything was going wrong for her
she kept on smiling.
Favorite Movie: Dirty Dancing
Favorite Music: 90s country
Favorite Part of Summer 2016: ALA Girls State
School Involvement: NHS, volleyball, track, choir
Future Plans: pursue a major in biology or exercise science. Where is
undecided for now.
Raina Grimsley
Nickname: R Geazy
State Student Council Position: James River Region Representative
Favorite StuCo Memory: Mason Wenzel's Superman suit.
Role Model and Why: My role model is definitely Michelle Obama. She's
professional, intelligent, supportive, and fun too. She's well-rounded and highly
respected.
Favorite Movie: Happy Gilmore
Favorite Music Artist: Ed Sheeran or Chance the Rapper
Favorite Part of Summer 2016: getting to meet male models in Las Vegas 😉😉.
Hahah, actually, probably spending time on the lake with my friends.
School Involvement: Color Guard, band, speech and debate, dance, HOSA,
theatre.
Future Plans: NO IDEA where I plan to attend college, but my ultimate career
goal is an Orthopedic Surgeon. We'll see how much schooling I can handle, lol.
I'm a radio DJ so catch me on the weekends on either 105.9 KMIT or Kool 98.3
😉😉
SDSCA FALL NEWSLETTER | Issue 1
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Jack Sonnenburg
State Student Council Position: Northern Lakes Region Representative
Favorite StuCo Memory: Winning the baggo tournament last year.
Role Model and Why: My role model is my dad because he is the nicest guy I
know and makes everyone happy.
Favorite Movie: I like all of the Harry Potter movies.
Favorite Music: I like all music except for country.
Favorite Part of Summer 2016: My favorite part of the summer was going to
the Sioux Falls air show because I love planes.
School Involvement: In school I'm involved in Student council (obviously),
National Honor Society, and I play football, basketball, and track.
Future Plans: After school I plan to go to SDSU for premed or a nursing degree
and do Air Force ROTC. After college then become a combat rescue officer.
Some fun information about me is that I like cats a lot but German shepherds
and huskies get to me no matter what. I love to play Xbox with my friends and
my brother.
Trew DeJong
Nickname: Trewbert
State Student Council Position: Rushmore Region Representative
Favorite StuCo Memory: My StuCo memory is meeting new people and making
new friends.
Role Model and Why: Tim Tebow, because he has great morals and is a great
leader.
Favorite Movie: Mulan
Favorite Music: Anything by John Mark McMillian
Favorite Part of Summer 2016: My favorite part of this summer was getting to
go to Disney World and Universal Studios with my family.
School Involvement: In school I am involved in football, golf, student council,
band, choir, 4-H, and FCCLA.
Future Plans: In the future I would like to go to college and major in History
Education.
My favorite sport is baseball, and my favorite animals are corgis.
Noah Bunger
Nickname: Bungy
State Student Council Position: Spirit Point Representative
Favorite StuCo Memory: When I was a sophomore and at the state convention
one of my friends really wanted Domino's but it was 10:30 and curfew was 11.
So he decided it was a great idea to walk to Domino's and go out our back door
of our room. He walked 3 of the 6 miles there, decided it wasn't worth it, hitched
a ride back with a stranger and somehow avoided being suspended. Savage.
Role Model and Why: I'd say my role model would be my parents for making
ends meet where they couldn't before for their children and allowing me to
proceed with all my different activities and organizations!
Favorite Movie: Pitch Perfect 2 why not
Favorite Music: Drake, Melanie Martinez, The Band Perry, Coldplay and
Imagine Dragons. I also really like Prince Royce and his Spanish singles.
Favorite Part of Summer 2016: Senior Honor Choir was lit
School Involvement: I'm current StuCo Chapter President, I'm in HOSA, Quiz
Bowl, Choir, All-State Chorus, and I'm class representative.
Future plans: I plan on going to college to study pre-veterinary medicine.
I'm a twin (I'm older by 32 minutes), my shoulders are double-jointed, I have 8
pets (4 dogs, 3 cats, 1 tortoise, and I work at an animal hospital.
SDSCA FALL NEWSLETTER | Issue 1
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Brandon Heil
Nickname: Big Heil
State Student Council Position: Upper Missouri Region Representative
Favorite StuCo Memory: This summer when we had our first state meeting
and I got to meet a lot of new people.
Role Model and Why: Neil Armstrong, because he was the first person to do
something nobody ever did before.
Favorite Movie: The Blind Side
Favorite Music: Country, mainly Florida Georgia Line
Favorite Part of Summer 2016: Being able to haul grain to the elevator for a
whole week instead of doing any hard work.
School Involvement: FFA, Student council, band, National Honor Society
Future Plans: Hopefully become a well know diesel mechanic.
Well, I like pizza, and all I got to eat this whole summer for lunch was peanut
butter and jellies which was alright until about the third week into summer.
Brinley Nielson
Nickname: Pineapple or b-dawg
State Student Council Position: Middle School-High School rep
Favorite StuCo Memory: lip sync battles
Role Model and Why: Miss South Dakota 2015 Meredith Gould, because she
is beautiful, kind, smart, and absolutely amazing inside and out while expressing
who she is what she loves.
Favorite Movie: Mega Mind
Favorite Music: all the music from Kung Fu Panda
Favorite Part of Summer 2016: participating in a community play Hello Dolly
School Involvement: Choir, Student Council, and yearly musicals.
Future Plans: I want to be a family therapist or Family Law attorney.
I’m not athletic! I have 4 dogs and an old cat named Mr. Tinkles. I'll be moving to
Montana this year and I've enjoyed doing everything I was able to do for the
state board while I was still here in South Dakota. I will miss everyone,
especially my student council friends
SDSCA FALL NEWSLETTER | Issue 1
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This Year, State StuCo is Going West!
Check out more about State
Student Council on Facebook,
Twitter, and the SDHSAA website
and register for South Dakota State
Student Council 2017!
If you want to run for a state office this coming year, start thinking about your campaign! If
you meet the requirements, run for an office! You’ll have a blast!