Charles Mix Electric Association of Lake Andes, SD is proud to announce that Ashlyn Koupal has been chosen as a “Touchstone Energy Scholar of the Week” by Dakota News Now. Ashlyn is a senioratWagnerCommunity School.

Ashlyn will appear on Dakota News’ 6:00 evening news broadcast on Monday, December 15th, and again on the early morning news at 6:00 a.m. the following morning. The segment will highlight many of her accomplishments in the classroom and in her community.

During her high school years, Ashlyn has been a standout in the sports arena, playing varsity basketball since the seventh grade, as well as volleyball and track. She is a five-time state track champion in the high jump event, and hopes to follow that with a sixth win in 2026. Her basketball prowess has seen her named as both the Mitchell Daily Republic’s “Player of the Year” and the Yankton Press & Dakotan’s “Female Athlete of the Year” in 2023, and the SD “Gatorade Player of the Year” in 2025. She excels in the classroom as well as on the court, and mentors younger students through a Fellowship of Christian Athletes program. Ashlyn has recently committed to attending the University of Nebraska in Lincoln on a basketball scholarship.

Ashlyn will receive a $250 award for her efforts and will be invited to attend a “Scholar of the Year” banquet, where she will be eligible for additional scholarships. She is the daughter of Mike and Tera Koupal of Wagner. Charles Mix Electric is the Touchstone Energy electric cooperative serving rural Charles Mix County.