Schools

Tosa Teams Qualify for National Civic Education Competition

West wins fifth consecutive state championship; East gets second and also heads to Washington DC.

Wauwatosa high schools dominated the state event at the "We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution Competition" on civic education and now have two teams raising funds and sharpening their skills for national competition in April in Washington DC.

The West High School team set a Wisconsin record by winning its fifth consecutive state championship.

“The kids really understood the situation presented to them this year,” said Chad Mateske, West APPSE teacher. “They knew that the tradition was hanging over their heads and they knew that a chance to set the new mark for consecutive wins by a school was attainable. While they understand their link to the previous classes they also recognize the chance to make a name for themselves out in DC”

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Members of the West team are: Annie Albers, Erin Billstrom, Brianna Blinkiewicz, Patrick Campbell, Brian Carlson, Kevin Dettlaff, Stephanie Eberle, Jennifer Flynn, Hannah Fritsch, Kylie Hogrefe, Mandy Holmer, Marianna Januario, Dana Kautzer, Elizabeth Kuna-Hildebrandt, Krista Lambeau, Jordan Llanas, Mickey Morgan, Maggie Overholt, Beth Pierce, Leah Rogers, Susie Shively, Laurel Stutz, Jenny Syburg, C.C. Vang and Jack Wongtam.

Mateske added, “This team probably gelled together better than any other class has so far and that helped as we came down to crunch time and working together. The kids are really excited about getting to represent the state and have set the goal of shooting to finish in the top 10 once again.”

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Attorneys Mark Young and Tom Schneck, former West parents, volunteered their time to work with the West students throughout the year, as they have in past years. The West team also had the benefit of guidance from Katie Adams and Mitch Bultman, teaching assistants from last year’s team.

Red Raiders Earn 2nd, 3rd

East High School sent two teams to the state competition, and finished second and third behind West. The second-place team will also compete at the national event in Washington, D.C., qualifying as a wild card.

Elaina Meier, East APPSE teacher, said, “What made this group of students (second place team) impressive to work with was their ability to engage in civil discourse in times of political discord in our country.”

Members of the East team are: Beau Allison, Alex Brannan, Ian Cline, Meg Dewire, Leah Eisenhauer, Dan Erickson, William Gambon, Peter Garofalo, Libby Hallanger-Berstein, Rose Hayes-Dineen, Meghan Hoose, Geneva Kennedy, Vincent Kuranz, Franki Ludwig, Gillian McBride, Joe Metz, Ben Mihelich, Kieran O’Day, John Paetsch, Jack Pankratz, Jack Salemme, Sam Schulz, Rose Spice-Kopischke, Zoey Stefaniak, Lena Tomaszek, Claire Urban, and Derek Wulff.

Also assisting the team were attorney Jayne Dewire and East alum Tyler Marcin.

The We the People program prepares students for state and national level events with a challenging social studies and history curriculum. At the simulated congressional hearings, students answer questions posed by volunteer panels consisting of lawyers, legislators and educational professionals. Members of the class become expert witnesses on one of six units in the curriculum and then testify before the judges acting as U.S. Congressional Representatives. The curriculum’s design and mock congressional hearing format combine to make this program unique because it addresses the academic standards required in Wisconsin’s K-12 curriculum while also challenging students to develop both individual and team skills.

The teams will begin preparation for the national topics and questions in February before heading to Washington, D.C. in April to compete against the other 49 state champions and other top teams. While there, the teams will compete in front of some of the leading scholars in the nation serving as judges as well as tour the monuments, memorials and museums. If schedules allow, the students will also have the opportunity to meet with members of Congress.

How You Can Help

The East and West teams will now start the daunting task of raising $45,000 each to fund their efforts to take part in the competition. Send donations to:

West High School
Candice Miller
11400 W. Center St.
Wauwatosa, WI 53222
Make checks out to Wauwatosa West High School

East High School
Elaina Meier
7500 Milwaukee Ave.
Wauwatosa, WI 53213
Make checks out to Wauwatosa East High School

News Release
For further information, contact
Dan Chanen, Human Resources Director
(414) 773-1062


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