Business briefs 08-11-20

Posted

Locals to help lead SDN Communications

SIOUX FALLS – In times of uncertainty, SDN Communications has relied on experienced leadership to keep the region connected.

Its nine-member board of managers has played an integral part in improving communities in South Dakota amid a global pandemic. The spread of COVID-19 proved the importance of having access to reliable connectivity as workplaces shifted to work-from-home environments and schools moved to online instruction.

The Connect South Dakota grant program has awarded more than $11 million to 12 of SDN’s member companies over the past two years. Combined with their investment, South Dakota’s independent broadband providers are closing gaps in connectivity that have left some rural areas of the state unserved or underserved. In 2019, over 100 businesses and approximately 4,800 residents gained access to broadband internet. To date, 2020 has resulted in 295 businesses and 3,700 households receiving internet connectivity. The long-standing leaders of SDN’s member companies have been making a difference across South Dakota and at SDN for decades.

The board of managers, which governs SDN Communications, was elected during its recent annual meeting. Each member maintained their position on the board.

Denny Law of Wall will serve as board president for his second consecutive year. 

Vice President Bryan Roth has been a member of the board for 21 years. Roth is the general manager and CEO of TrioTel Communications Salem, and Interstate Telecommunications Cooperative, Inc. (Clear Lake).

Randy Houdek, of  Highmore, will continue serving as secretary/treasurer and is the longest-serving member of the board at 22 years.

Steve Meyer of Swiftel Communications will also serve on the board.

Together, SDN and its 17 owner-members operate a 50,000-mile fiber network that reaches into eight states, including South Dakota, Minnesota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado.

The independent telephone companies of South Dakota formed SDN Communications in 1989 to provide better long-distance options to their customers. 

Students awarded $1,000 from Hy-Vee Foundation scholarship program

SIOUX FALL – Hy-Vee announced recently that seven area students have each been awarded $1,000 from the Hy-Vee Foundation Scholarship program.

In honor of Hy-Vee’s 90th anniversary this year, scholarships were awarded to 90 high school seniors and college students who are part of the Hy-Vee community across the company’s eight-state region. Scholarships were awarded to high school students who work for Hy-Vee, or have a parent who works for the company, and to college students who are employed by Hy-Vee.

Local scholarship winners include:

High school winners

• Victoria Diersen, Brookings Hy-Vee

• Sadie Fedders, Yankton Hy-Vee

• Quinn Hilber, Hy-Vee on South Minnesota (Sioux Falls) 

• Saylor Weiland, Marion Road Hy-Vee (Sioux Falls)

• Lauren Williams, 57th and Cliff Hy-Vee (Sioux Falls)

College winners

• Jacob Devine, Brookings Hy-Vee 

• Emily Oswald, Yankton Hy-Vee

Since 1969, Hy-Vee has awarded more than $2.5 million in scholarships.

“For more than 50 years, we have awarded scholarships to students who are connected to Hy-Vee and have demonstrated outstanding academic achievements,” said Jess Enos, Hy-Vee’s vice president of training and education. “The Hy-Vee Foundation Scholarship program allows us to help young students achieve their educational goals.”

High school students selected for this year’s scholarship had an average GPA of 3.98 and an average ACT score of 29. Their average years of service working for Hy-Vee was 1.81 years. For the college scholarship recipients, the average GPA was 3.81 and the average years of service was 3.03 years.