Special Scholarships Awarded to Miss South Dakota and Miss South Dakota Teen Pageant

Miss South Dakota

BROOKINGS — Additional special scholarship and prize winners were announced June 1 during the 2024 Miss South Dakota and Miss South Dakota's Teen pageant for women across the state. This is part of more than $64,000 in scholarships and awards distributed during the annual state competition.

Miss South Dakota Awards

The Miss Awards begin with Joelle Simpson, the new Miss South Dakota, receiving the $1,000 Dorothy Barnett Interview Award. This award is given to the delegate with the highest private interview score. Simpson also received the $1,000 Ray Peterson Rookie of the Year Award given to the highest-ranking delegate competing in her first year at Miss South Dakota.

Second runner-up, Emily Deinken, received the $1,000 Quality of Life Award, given to the nominee who addressed a legitimate need in her community through the creation, development and participation in a community service project in the domain of its platform. This award is sponsored by Bruce and Susan Wintle of Iroquois and their daughter, Carrie Wintle, Miss South Dakota 2018.

Deinken also won the $500 Miss South Dakota Legacy Award, sponsored by Kaitlin O'Neill, Miss SD 2021. This award is given to the contestant who best exemplifies the values ​​of the Miss America organization in her community service.

Jensine Matson, Miss Clay County Fair and third runner-up, received the $1,000 Sylvia Tannehill “Kindness” Award. Sylvia Tannehill is a long-time and much-loved member of the Miss South Dakota family. Her kindness and spirit left an impression on all the volunteers she welcomed into her home in Hot Springs. His laughter, hospitality and ability to memorize everyone's names inspired this award. Applicants must demonstrate that they have led legitimate actions in their community and elsewhere through the creation, development and/or participation in acts of kindness, leading others to use their methods or participate in community change. lifestyle towards kindness and generosity.

Sydney Morgan, fourth runner-up, was the top fundraiser, receiving a $500 prize. Madisen Vetter, Miss Dakota Prairie, received the $1,000 State Community Service Award. This is awarded to the candidate who has demonstrated dedication to serving their community and state through volunteerism. They should be able to show how their volunteering has helped the community and how they have personally benefited from it. This award is sponsored by Autumn Simunek Conrad, Miss South Dakota 2015.

The South Dakota Scholarship Foundation, in partnership with CDI, Inc. of Brookings, supports the idea that developing world-class talent in science, technology, engineering and mathematics is essential to leadership world of America. CDI sponsors two $750 scholarships for applicants who demonstrate dedication to the STEM field. The winners were Joelle Simpson, Miss South Dakota and Sydney Morgan, Miss Hot Springs. Simpson is attending the University of Minnesota majoring in medical laboratory sciences; its community service initiative is “Nurturing Nature.” Morgan graduated this spring from homeschool/Hot Springs High School and plans to attend South Dakota State University and major in nursing.

An award for the non-finalist with the highest private interview score was awarded to Madisen Vetter, Miss Dakota Prairie. She received $250. McKayla Gunderson, Miss Missouri River, received the Miss SD non-finalist talent award of $250 and was able to share her talent on stage during the final night of competition.

Jensine Matson, Miss Clay County Fair, was selected by her peers as Miss Congeniality and received $500.

South Dakota Strong is a new award presented this year by former Miss South Dakota, Shantel Swedlund Krebs. The award ceremony began with the Miss delegates writing an essay on what makes them “South Dakota Strong.” From there, five delegates were selected to conduct a 10-minute interview with Krebs. The 2024 South Dakota Strong Award winner was Miss Siouxland, Maleah Eschenbaum, who received a $5,000 prize. Madisen Vetter, Miss Dakota Prairie, won 2nd place and received $1,000. The other three were Julia Stanek, Joelle Simpson and McKayla Gunderson, each receiving $500.

Miss South Dakota Teen Awards

The Miss South Dakota's Teen Awards begin with the new Miss South Dakota's Teen, Briley Steffensen, who received the Miss SD Teen Top Talent Award for $250.

Amelie Wilcox, Miss Rolling Plains' Teen, received the award for Best Miss SD Teen Interview, receiving $250. Additionally, Wilcox received Miss SD's Teen Community Service Award of $200. This award is given to the teen delegate who excels in their commitment to volunteering and service within their community. Wilcox also won the $200 Teen STEM Award, given to the teen delegate who is studying or planning to study in a science, technology, engineering or math field, as well as the Johnson Jackrabbit Scholarship of $1,250, awarded to a registered teen delegate. or is considering studying at South Dakota State University and is able to discuss how being a Jackrabbit will allow them to pursue their higher education goals.

Miss SD's Teen On Stage Conversation Prize, valued at $150, was awarded to Taya Ritterbush, Miss Rushmore's teen, who had the highest score on the on-stage questions during the competition.

Miss Congeniality for Miss SD's Teen delegates was awarded to Anna Bisbee, Miss Wolf Pack's teen. She was selected by her peers to receive this $500 award.

More information about the pageant is available at misssd.org or on the Miss SouthDakota Organization Facebook page.