MADISON — Students from 16 teams across the state will compete at this year’s Wisconsin Civics Games state finals for an opportunity to win bragging rights and a $2,000 scholarship to a Wisconsin college or university of their choice. The finals, scheduled for May 2 at the State Capitol in Madison, are presented by the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation with financial support from Civics Games sponsors.
The state finals are open to the public, with media outlets also encouraged to attend. Welcoming remarks will begin at 9 a.m. in Room 411 South. The Games, which will be broadcast on WisconsinEye, are expected to conclude at approximately 3:30 p.m.
The WNA Foundation launched the Wisconsin Civics Games in 2018 in response to declining civics education and participation.
This year, more than 200 students on 49 teams from 27 schools in Wisconsin competed Wednesday, April 9 and Thursday, April 10 in Wisconsin Civics Games preliminary competitions. The Playoffs were held virtually and the top two teams from each division advanced to the state finals.
Schools competing this week included:
Belleville High School, Beloit Turner High School — 2 teams, Big Foot Union High School, Cedarburg High School — 5 teams, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School Milwaukee — 3 teams, Denmark High School — 3 teams, Freedom High School; Grafton High School, Green Bay Preble, Green Bay Southwest High School — 2 teams, iForward Online Charter School, Lena High School, Lomira — 2 teams, Middleton High School, Mineral Point High School — 2 teams, Mishicot High School, Oregon High School, Platteville High School; Richland Center, River Falls High School — 2 teams, Seymour Community High School, Sheboygan Falls High School, Slinger High School — 3 teams, St. Francis Xavier High School — 3 teams, Waunakee High School — 3 teams, Waupaca High School and West Bend West High School — 4 teams.
During the eight virtual Playoff Divisions on April 9 and 10, teams faced off in head-to-head Civics Games matchups, answering questions about the state budget, local elections, legislative term limits, quorums and other civics-related issues. Public officials, legal professionals, and newspaper editors and publishers served as judges for the Games.
Advancing teams include:
● Beloit Turner High School Team 2
● Belleville High School
● Cedarburg High School Team 3
● Cedarburg High School Team 5
● Lomira Team 2
● Middleton High School
● Oregon High School
● Platteville High School
● Slinger High School Team 2
● Slinger High School Team 3
● St. Francis Xavier High School Team 1
● Waunakee High School Team 2
● Waupaca High School
● West Bend West High School Team 1
● West Bend West High School Team 2
● West Bend West High School Team 4
“Congratulations to all of the high school students who participated in the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation’s Civics Games competition,” said Beth Bennett, executive director of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association. “Your dedication to understanding the principles that shape our democracy and your passion for civic engagement inspires us all.”
“Watching these students from across Wisconsin demonstrate their civic knowledge and their civil engagement demonstrates the excellent opportunity offered by the Wisconsin Civics Games to spark their interest in how government works and perhaps a career in public service,” said Eve Galanter, who is a member of the WNA Foundation Board and coordinates the Civics Games for the WNA. “They give me great hope for our future.”
Additional support for the Wisconsin Civics Games has been provided by the Universities of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Counties Association, the Evjue Foundation, Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, Carol O’Leary (past WNA President), Multi Media Channels, WisPolitics, the MG&E Foundation, League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, Godfrey & Kahn, Wisconsin Association of Student Councils, WisconsinEye, Wisconsin Senate Scholars Program and News Tracker.
