Military Family Support Group, BrainPower in a BackPack and Caring Hearts in Action are named runners up
Farmington’s Rogue Robotics team won the 2019 Touchstone Energy Community Award. Here is the team pictured with coach Spencer Elvebak and Dakota Electric directors (L-R) Janet Lekson, Margaret Schreiner, Paul Bakken and Jack DeYoe.
Dakota Electric Association named First Robotics Team 2987 Rogue Robotics, Farmington, as the local 2019 Touchstone Energy Community Award winner. Military Family Support Group, BrainPower in a BackPack and Caring Hearts in Action, were named runners-up, and each of the non-profits received a plaque and a check for $500.
“Dakota Electric is proud to be able to recognize these organizations doing great work in our local communities,” said Greg Miller, Dakota Electric’s president and chief executive officer. “As a member-owned cooperative, we are committed to our local communities and this is one way we encourage and honor those who are like-minded.”
Rogue Robotics is a high school robotics team that focuses on building leaders through STEM. In addition, the team has started a Minnesota chapter of Go-Baby-Go, a nonprofit that assists disabled children by modifying children’s power car toys to be used for mobility purposes. The team has been featured in more than 100 media sources and even made a trip to the White House in May as they donated a customized wheel chair to a boy from Burnsville.
Caring Hearts in Action was a runner up of the 2019 Touchstone Energy Community Award. Shown here is Mary Canada with Dakota Electric directors (L-R) Paul Bakken, Janet Lekson, Jack DeYoe and Margaret Schreiner.
Military Family Support Group, Burnsville, seeks to provide military personnel serving in war zones care packages and support to reassure them that they are not forgotten. BrainPower in a BackPack, Burnsville, has high school student volunteers packing backpacks of food for students in middle school, elementary school and preschool who are from families that can use the help. Caring Hearts in Action, Farmington, provides a free clothing closet and food pantry for struggling families.
The Touchstone Energy Community Award recognizes organizations for outstanding contributions to the local community.
Rogue Robotics award application will be submitted to the statewide Minnesota Touchstone Energy Community Award. The statewide award recipient will be selected from local award winners throughout Minnesota and will receive $1,000. The Minnesota Touchstone Energy Community Award will be announced in March, during the Minnesota Rural Electric Association’s annual meeting in St. Paul.
Miltary Family Support Group was a runner up of the 2019 Touchstone Energy Community Award. Shown here are Lois and Jim Finan with Dakota Electric directors (L-R) Paul Bakken, Jack DeYoe, Janet Lekson and Margaret Schreiner.
Read more about Rogue in our January Circuits.
BrainPower in a BackPack was a runner up of the 2019 Touchstone Energy Community Award. Shown here is Pam Voight with Dakota Electric directors (L-R) Paul Bakken, Jack DeYoe, Janet Lekson and Margaret Schreiner.
The 2019 Touchstone Energy Community Award winners with Dakota Electric board members.
