Student Writing and Cartoon Contest Now Open

Contest supports civic education and engagement

Door County middle and high school students, including students who are home-schooled, are encouraged to participate in the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation’s editorial writing and cartoon contest, which is now open to all Wisconsin students. 

The contest is designed to increase civic education and engagement while celebrating the rights established by the First Amendment, so entries should focus on the importance of the First Amendment. Students are encouraged to draw from personal experiences, current events and historical examples. 

For the writing contest, high school students are asked to write a “guest column” (500 words or fewer) about the First Amendment, and middle school students are asked to write a “letter to the editor” (200 words or fewer) on the same topic. Students may compete in the editorial-cartoon contests by submitting one First Amendment–themed editorial cartoon. 

The submission deadline is Oct. 24, and winners will be announced in early December. First-place winners in each contest will receive $500, second place $250, third place $100 and honorable mentions $50. Winning entries will also be published by newspapers across the state. If there are winners from Door County, those entries will be published in the Peninsula Pulse. 

Wisconsin Civics Games

Another way that the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation seeks to support educational civics initiatives is through the Wisconsin Civics Games. The foundation is gearing up for the 2023 Wisconsin games, which will conclude with the state finals, set for May 12 at the state Capitol in Madison. Regional competitions will be held virtually April 13-14. 

Students can sign up now at wisconsincivicsgames.com.