South Dakota business and students awarded by Better Business Bureau

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – A few South Dakotans were among those recently selected by an independent panel of business and community leaders as 2023 Better Business Bureau award and scholarship recipients.

Among the 28 organizations in Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and South Dakota that were selected as 2023 Torch Award recipients for Ethics was First Insurance Group, which has locations in Mitchell and Woonsocket. The BBB Torch Awards for Ethics program recognizes area businesses and nonprofit organizations that generate a high level of trust with their employees, customers, and communities. Judges evaluate these organizations based on the company’s community impact, culture, customer relationships, and the character of the company’s leadership.

Three South Dakota high school seniors also were awarded $2,000 in scholarships as part of the Students of Integrity Scholarship program, which recognizes high school seniors who personify values, leadership, and integrity. Those students included Taylor Even of Burke High School, Gavin Sannes of Webster Area High School and Ava Gooch of Spearfish High School.

Each of the winners will be honored at a ceremony at A View West Shores on Tuesday, September 19, 2023.

A full list of winners can be found below:

The 2023 BBB Torch Awards for Ethics winners are:

Omaha & SW Iowa:

Lincoln & Greater Nebraska:

Kansas:

South Dakota:

The 2023 BBB Spark Award winners are:

Omaha & SW Iowa:

• Rebecca Deterding of YMCA of Greater Omaha
• Matthew Gottsch of Gottsch’s Goo

Lincoln & Greater Nebraska:

• Nina Burkey of Graceful In Home Healthcare

The 2023 Students of Integrity Scholarship recipients are:

Omaha & SW Iowa:

• Megan Wells — East Mills High School, Malvern, Iowa
• Nina Marie Kudlacz — Ralston High School, Ralston, Nebraska
• Trista Swain — Griswold High School, Griswold, Iowa

Lincoln & Greater Nebraska:

• Kailyn Paul — Meridian High School, Daykin, Nebraska
• Anthony Nguyen — Lincoln Pius X High School, Lincoln, Nebraska
• Trinity Houchin — Minden High School, Axtell, Nebraska

Kansas:

• Cassandra Zimmerman — Colby High School, Colby, Kansas
• Jane Letourneau — St. John’s High School, Benedictine, Kansas
• Sydney Puetz — Garden Plain High School, Cheney, Kansas

South Dakota:

• Taylor Even — Burke High School, Burke, South Dakota
• Gavin Sannes — Webster Area High School, Webster, South Dakota
• Ava Gooch — Spearfish High School, Spearfish, South Dakota

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