People, organizations honored for acts of excellence

Delivering coffee, saving the environment, saving a life. These and other acts of excellence in western South Dakota will be honored Monday.

The South Dakota Hall of Fame's Acts of Excellence program highlights individuals and organizations that are building a culture of excellence in the state — one act at a time. Eight new Acts of Excellence recipients will be recognized at a celebration from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Monday at the Joy Center at Black Hills State University in Spearfish. The public is invited.

The Acts of Excellence program was introduced in 2015 to be inclusive and to encourage excellent “boots on the ground, day-to-day activities,” said Greta Chapman, chief executive officer for the South Dakota Hall of Fame.

Year-round, the public and organizations can submit nominations about acts of excellence, Chapman said. Honorees will receive a framed award and their stories will be shared online and through videos so their acts of excellence can continue to inspire others.

Each of the recipients is uniquely striving to improve the quality of life in South Dakota.

Alexandra Doyle, Spearfish

Doyle saw opportunity in the home-delivery business and created a mobile coffee shop that brings fresh-brewed coffee directly to customers.  

Doyle, a 2013 graduate of Spearfish High School, bought a van equipped with refrigeration and piping systems and started Blue Spruce Coffee, which also sells tea, diet-supplement juices and baked goods. She delivers in Spearfish and Belle Fourche and wants to add Sturgis to her service area.

She has partnered with area businesses including Sage & Cedar Herbal Wellness, Dark Canyon Coffee, Scobi Kombucha and The Green Oven. Doyle uses locally sourced products, and a key piece of her business plan is charitable giving. She uses a punch-card system to give customers every 10th coffee for free and donates $1 to the charity of their choice.