Award Winners

---

   Brody is our winner of the 2026 Hunter Tillman Foundation Citizenship Award! Brody is an exceptional student and a wonderful person. He has the biggest heart and gives his best effort with everything he does, says his teacher, Chis Geuke. 

• Brody participates in Special Olympics and enjoys working at his job at Lueders Grocery Store. He is always willing to help staff and his peers at school. He will be missed as he moves on from his time at SHS. Congratulations Brody!

   Abigail is our very deserving winner of the 2025 Hunter Tillman Memorial Medical Scholarship. She is a 2025 Graduate of Spearfish High School and a member of the National Honor Society. Abigail has an extensive list of accomplishments and volunteer work including working with Special Olympics and Camp Friendship. She is also very active in community service and organizations such as the Humane Society and Medicine Mountain Scout Camp. 

• Abigail is currently a student at the University of Scranton and enrolled in their Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Program. Pursuing a degree in Biology and hopes to pursue a career in the medical field, leaning towards Pediatric Cardiology. Currently working as a Patient Care Technician at Commonwealth Health and actively involved in community service programs.  

   Jonas is our winner of the 2025 Hunter Tillman Foundation Citizenship Award! He has finished up his final year at Spearfish High School. Jonas has been a wonderful student during his time at SHS says his teacher, Chis Geuke. 

• He has also been an integral part of the Unified Spartans Special Olympics program. Jonas was a student manager of the Spearfish Spartan Coffee Cart in its first year of existence. He was an important part of all of the success that the coffee cart experienced this year. Jonas will truly be missed as he moves on from his time at SHS. Congratulations Jonas!

  Alexis is an obvious choice for the 2024 Hunter Tillman Memorial Medical Scholarship. She is a 2024 Graduate of Spearfish High School. She was Vice President of Key Club, a member of National Honors Society and HOSA. She will be attending the University of South Dakota to pursue an undergraduate degree in medical biology with the hopes to further my education and become an OBGYN and later a Reproductive Endocrinologist. We are excited to have her be this year's award winner.

• Anna is currently attending the University of South Dakota

   Claire became our first ever recipient of the Hunter Tillman Memorial Special Education Scholarship! She is a 2024 Graduate of Spearfish High School. We are excited to have her be this year's award winner.

• Claire is finishing her first year at the University of South Dakota, where she is pursuing special education and elementary education. This year, she has volunteered at Special Olympics and had a twenty-hour field experience at the Vermillion Southeast South Dakota Activity Center (SESDAC), an organization that provides services for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Also, as an active member of the South Dakota Education Association, South Dakota Association for the Education of Young Children, and the Council for Exceptional Children clubs on campus, she continues to persue  important volunteer activities while attending school full time.

   Anna was a unanimous choice for the 2023 Hunter Tillman Memorial Medical Scholarship. She is a 2023 Graduate of Spearfish High School. She participated in an internship at the Spearfish Hospital and has a goal of becoming a Nurse Anesthetist. She also was a part of a medical mission to Haiti and gained valuable insight into helping people with medical needs. We are excited to have her be this years award winner.

• Anna is currently finishing her first year at South Dakota State University and will begin her nursing program this fall 2024.She is an active member of the Student Nurses Association and participates in many activities and volunteer opportunities through the organization. She was on the Dean's List for both semesters and completed Honors courses throughout the year. 

  Gabe is finishing up his final year at Spearfish High School and was a classmate of Hunter's. His teacher Mr. Gueke says that Gabe has been an outstanding student and a wonderful person in the classroom. Congratulations Gabe!

   Halli is an obvious choice for the 2022 Hunter Tillman Memorial Medical Scholarship. She is a 2022 Graduate of Spearfish High School and spends time volunteering with organizations such as Hope Ranch and Key Club in addition to being a Sunday School teacher. We are excited to have her be this years award winner.

• Halli is currently attending Union University College of Pharmacy in Jackson TN while maintaining a 4.0 GPA and being named to the University's President List. She has also been elected to the role of secretary of the Pre-Pharmacy Organization.

   Samantha is a wonderfully accomplished young woman, a 2021 Graduate of Spearfish High School, and our top choice for the 2021 Hunter Tillman Memorial Scholarship. She has shown a dedication to the medical field and leadership qualities. Samantha chartered an organization in school called Health Occupation Students of America-HOSA. She has volunteered with many organizations such as the American Heart Association, after school programs,  multiple church groups, and blood drives. During her school career she was the President of her high school Speech and Debate team and was recognized as the 2019 State Champion in Original Oratory and the 2021 State Champion in Public Forum Debate. In 2020 Samantha also the National Speech and Debate Association's Academic All-American award. She is going to accomplish great things and we couldn't be happier with her representing our scholarship.

• Samantha is currently attending Augustana University as a Biology Pre-Med Student with a minor in Medical Humanities and Sociology.

   Ryan Peldo is an amazing young man and an exemplary award recipient. He is the 2020 Spearfish High School Class Valedictorian, a candidate for the prestigious United States Presidential Scholars Program, an All Conference athlete, Student Council, and National Honors Society. He has also performed medical volunteer mission work in Haiti where he was able to observe surgeries. Ryan will make a difference in this world and we are proud to have him as our 2020 Hunter Tillman Memorial Scholarship recipient. 

• Ryan is currently attending South Dakota State University and is maintaining a 4.0+ GPA. He has joined the Pre-Professional Club and the American Medical Student Association on the SDSU campus. Ryan also volunteers in the community through Sleep in Heavenly Peace, which is an organization that builds beds for children that do not have them.

   Savanna is the perfect choice and very deserving Inaugural Recipient of the Hunter Tillman Memorial Scholarship. She is a 2019 Graduate of Spearfish High School. Savanna has an extensive list of accomplishments and volunteer work including job shadowing at Spearfish Regional Hospital, and working with Special Olympics. She is also very active in her church and community projects. We are honored to have Savanna as our Inaugural Hunter Tillman Memorial Scholarship recipient.  

• She is currently attending South Dakota State University working towards a career in Nursing.

.