NRHS students enjoy Badger State experience

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Badger State

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Two New Richmond students took part in the annual Badger State program in June.

Abby Berning attended Badger Girls State at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and Joey Miller attended Badger Boys State at Ripon College. About 800 young adults from across Wisconsin participate in the annual camps each year.

Berning’s and Miller’s participation in the statewide program was made possible due to financial support from the American Legion Post 80 Auxiliary and American Legion Post 80, respectively.

Last year’s New Richmond High School representatives Bailey Matthys, Maggie Dalton, Walter DeKock and Tate Ziebol encouraged the local Badger Girls and Boys State representatives by telling them it would be an experience unlike anything they’d ever been a part of before.

Berning and Miller, along with delegates from high schools across the entire state of Wisconsin, spent an intense week learning how to run a government with hands-on experiences.

Badger State is a mock state modeled after Wisconsin. Each delegate was assigned to live in a “city,” which is within a “county,” which is within the State of Badger.

Each of these levels of government elected and appointed officials. Property was assessed and taxes were collected.

Delegates learned how to nominate candidates, circulate nomination papers and campaign. If elected, the delegates learned how to write ordinances, write bills and pass those bills into laws.

Badger State is a youth leadership program designed to educate youth in the duties, privileges, rights and responsibilities of American citizenship. The program has been developed on the fundamental principle that young people learn best by actively participating in the process.

Badger State representatives are selected by local high schools throughout Wisconsin based on their qualifications as good students, exhibiting strong leadership skills and in the top third of their class. Previous Badger Boys State graduates are prominent today as leaders in public office, business and the armed forces.

Anyone wishing to apply for the Badger State Boys or Girls programs may do so during their junior year in high school. Applications are available in the New Richmond High School office. At least two representatives (one girl and one boy) from New Richmond are chosen each year.

Tags: new richmond schools, education