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.
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
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 included:
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.”
The state finals on May 2 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.
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.
