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payoff for high school juniors

By MICHAEL MARTIN | Staff writer

If you want to learn about government, what better way to do so than to form one of your own?

That was the goal last month as junior boys and girls from high schools in the Coulee Region traveled to Badger Girls State and Badger Boys State programs held at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and Ripon College, respectively.

Without exception, participants from area high schools said that the week they spent immersed in governmental affairs was a worthwhile and perhaps even an exhilarating experience.

The assessment made by Melissa Moss of Holmen High School was typical.

“It was really fun and the overall idea is really good,” Moss said. “It helps you see how you can play a part in government. It made me feel like I could be a part of it if I chose to.”

David Wermedal, a junior at Bangor High School was even more enthusiastic.

“I loved it. The best parts were meeting a whole lot of new friends. I’m kind of interested in politics anyway, so it was even more interesting,” he said.

Organized by the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary, the nonpartisan, nonpolitical program, teaches delegates about the structure of government and politics by creating a mythical state where delegates elect their own county, state and national officials.

Area students who attended Badger Boys State at Ripon College were Wade Balkonis and Alec Zimmerman of Holmen; Cameron Beatse of Onalaska; Daniel Faas of Mindoro; Lars Grinde of Melrose; and Keaton Hilby, Matthew Waro and David Wermedal of Bangor.

Students who attended Badger Girls State at UW-Oshkosh were Stephanie Peters of Bangor; Melissa Moss, Janae Wrobel and Cassy Roberts of Holmen; Jordan Blaken of Melrose; Cassie Roberts of Mindoro; Samantha Ladwig of Onalaska; and Kelsey Pischke, Kristin Stockheimer and Brook Peterson of West Salem.

Delegates chosen were juniors in the upper one-third of their classes with an interest in government and who demonstrated leadership potential. They elected their own municipal, county and state officials. They passed their own laws and their own police and sheriffs enforced them. As attorneys, they prosecuted or defended their own cases and, as judges, they heard cases in their own courts.

This crash course in how government works impressed Blaken of Melrose.

“I learned all about the different levels of government, the things that go on behind the scenes that you might not think of,” she said.

Like the others, however, Blaken said that whole experience was enjoyable.

“I had a lot of fun and met a lot of girls who were extremely talented and really smart,” Blaken said.

Wermedal even ran for office for state senator at Badger Boys State.

“I actually won. I campaigned, shook hands and talked to people,” he said. “I did all those things. It definitely helped me to understand how government works.”

Stockheimer of West Salem High School wasn’t sure what she’d find at first.

“Going there I didn’t know what to expect, but I ended up really enjoying it. I’m glad I went,” she said.

Stockheimer said her dorm floor was considered a city.

“My roommate and I formed a business and paid taxes and I was superintendent of a school,” she said.

Blaken learned about government by becoming a county board supervisor. Asked if she’d recommend Badger Girls State to anyone else, Blaken was emphatic: “I definitely would — it was a great experience.”

Wermedal said the same thing of Badger Boys State. He also said that he’d met so many new friends that some of them were planning a “reunion” of sorts later on this summer.