Young artists and writers sought for WNA contest

As a continuation of its efforts to increase civic education and engagement, the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation (WNA), has launched the Wisconsin Civics Games Editorial Writing & Cartoon Contest. The contest is in conjunction with Sunshine Week, which was March 15-19, and is the annual celebration of open government, celebrating the rights established by the First Amendment.

The contest is open to all Wisconsin middle and high school students.

“We were thrilled by the enthusiastic statewide response to the launch of the Wisconsin Civics Games in 2019, and shared in the disappointment this year’s games had to be canceled, because of the pandemic,” said WNA Foundation Board member Eve Galanter. “We didn’t want to lose the critical connections that had been made, or the momentum that had been built toward fostering civic and civil engagement.”

To that end, the foundation decided to continue their efforts with the launch of an editorial writing and cartoon contest.

For the writing contest, high school students will be asked to write a “guest column” (500 words or less) about the First Amendment, while middle school students will be asked to write a “letter to the editor” (200 words or less) on the same topic. Students wishing to compete in the editorial cartoon contests may do so by submitting one First Amendmentthemed editorial cartoon.

Entries can be submitted online. The entry deadline is May 15, and winners will be announced July 1.

First-place winners will receive $500; second-place winners will receive $250; third-place winners will receive $100; and honorable mention recipients will receive $50.

In addition to being published on the WNA’s website, winning entries will also appear in newspapers across the state.

More information can be found at wnanews. Those interested in providing support through a donation or sponsorship, can also find more information on the website.

The WNA Foundation is a not-for-profit organization created in 1980, to support programs that foster excellence in journalism, engage current and future newspaper leaders, and invest in communities. The foundation solicits, manages and disburses funds, and other resources, for the benefit of Wisconsin’s newspaper industry.