Elaine Doll-Dunn of Spearfish has won the 2008 Spirit of Dakota award. The annual award recognizes women of distinction throughout South Dakota.

Doll-Dunn was recognized at a banquet Saturday in Huron. She was among 23 women from throughout the state nominated for the award.

Among Doll-Dunn's achievements have included authoring a book, being crowned Mrs. South Dakota and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. A teacher, she also is a dedicated marathon runner of 30 years and a cancer survivor.

Other nominees were Barbara Cline of Aberdeen, LaVaye Dubro of Iroquois, Irene Hansen of Cresbard, Lillian Hebert of Bonesteel, Verna Hoffman of Redfield, P.K. Holmes of Vermillion, Emily Jennings of Spearfish, Delores Johnson of Spearfish, Elizabeth Lewis of Yankton, Deana Larson of Hartford, Ellen Logan of Gettysburg, Jane Maine of Box Elder, Maxine McKeown of Elkton, Tana Nichols of Hill City, Tracey Olson of Parker, Linda Rabe of Rapid City, Brenda Schulte of Alexandria, Vonnie Shields of Pierre, Donna Stewart of DeSmet, Kay Thomas of Alexandria, Clarice Weiss of Colton and Sharon Wollman of Sioux Falls.

Past Spirit of Dakota honorees were Winifred Lorentson of Miller, Dr. Jeanie Sherman of Madison, Florence Bruhn of Watertown, Jeanette Lusk of Huron, Dorothy Cline of Brookings, Ruth Ziolkowski of Custer, Sylvia Henkin of Sioux Falls, Irene Fisher Coon of Sioux Falls, Hildreth Twostars Venegas of Sisseton, Lorraine Huntimer of Oldham, Mary Lou Tripp of Belle Fourche, Marsha Sumpter of Philip, Donna Schipke of Newell, Phyllis White Eyes DeCory of Rapid City, Virginia Lardinois of Huron, Patricia Fawcett of Ree Heights, Alice Kundert of Mound City, Janice Manolis of Huron, and June James of Hazel.