Denmark team wins 2024 Wisconsin Civics Games
A team from Denmark High School took first place in the 2024 Wisconsin Civics Games state championship Friday at the Capitol in Madison. Eighteen teams from 15 schools participated in the competition, presented by the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation. It was Denmark’s first trip to the finals.
The winning team, advised by social studies teacher Zack Olson, was comprised of Henry Pahlow (captain), Lydia Flanigan, Ben Lindsley, Aiden Nelsen, Collin Trepanier and Cherry Weis. Each will be awarded a $2,000 scholarships to a Wisconsin college or university of their choice.
They were among those who advanced from a field of more than 180 students who competed during the regional Games, which were held virtually last month.
West Bend East & West High Schools, who were state champions in 2023, took second place. The team, advised by social studies teacher Mark Drake, included Grace Mueller (captain), Faith Mueller, Owen Damkot and Daniel Zolp.
New London High School took third place. The two-person team, advised by social studies teacher Patrick Lawton, included Wyatt Adamovich and Jack Kedinger.
In addition to vying for points by answering questions about government, citizenship and the democratic process, students heard from Gov. Tony Evers, Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman, Attorney General Josh Kaul, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly, WNA President Kris O’Leary, WNA Foundation President Scott Peterson and WNA Foundation Board Member Eve Galanter.
“I hope that through this experience you’ve gained critical knowledge about what it means to be civically engaged, the important impact you have as a leader in your community, and how important it is to pay close attention to the world arround us,” Evers said.
The Wisconsin Civics Games was launched in 2018 by the WNA Foundation in an effort to fuel civic participation after data revealed municipalities across the state were having trouble filling local elected positions in their communities. Since then, the competition has continued to grow.
Friday’s competition was judged by Rep. Lisa Subeck, D-Madison; Hannah Dugan, Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge; Taylor Hooker, director of outreach and high school partnerships for the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities; Nicole Aimone, publisher and editor-in-chief of the (Spring Green) Valley Sentinel; and Taylor Scott, publisher and managing editor of the (Spring Green) Valley Sentinel. Volunteers included Joy Cardin, Melanie Ramey and Maura Mullen.
The Wisconsin Civics Games scholarships are funded in part by the generous support of the University of Wisconsin System. Additional support for the Games hasbeenprovidedbytheEvjueFoundation, Wisconsin Counties Association, League of Wisconsin Municipalities, MultiMedia Channels, Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, WisconsinEye, Wisconsin Senate Scholars Program, Wisconsin News Tracker and Godfrey & Kahn. Individuals interested in contributing can do so at bit.ly/wiscivics.
