Almost 500 schools were recognized by the National Association of Secondary School Principals recently, and only one of those was from Wisconsin.
The Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School Student Senate received a National Gold Council of Excellence Award, with officials noting that the school provides the student leaders with opportunities to make a difference in the community and beyond.
The senate had to complete a portfolio laying out what it does to benefit the school and other organizations, according to student Alexis Traut. She said it is well deserved because of what she and her fellow senators do.
“I really think our student senate is like no other,” Traut said. “We’re like family. We have really close bonds, and we work well together as a team. We just love serving our community, serving our students and making our school a better place.”
Handling the homecoming activities is a primary role for the senate. There’s a bonfire, dance, parade, pep rally and plenty of float building that takes place, according to Traut, but the senate also raises money to get a fireworks show for the homecoming football team.
“That’s our biggest school involved event,” Traut said. “We do something every night. It really brings the school together.”
WBHS also played a role in raising money for the Shop With a Cop event on behalf of the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department, according to Traut.
For Lana Centeno, another senate member, she enjoys when the senate brings in a giant Christmas tree each year to stand in the commons.
“I think that brings a bit of unique Christmas spirit to our school,” Centeno said. “It takes a while (to get it in), and then decorating it and getting it out. It’s a team effort, but that’s what we are.”
Centeno noted that the senate created a Battleship game in the school’s pool, something she considered to be unique.
“We try to give students experiences like they would find nowhere else,” Centeno said.
Some members of the senate got the opportunity to go to the state capitol, and Isaac Meydam was among them. He said the senators talked with area representatives, including Rep. Calvin Callahan and Senate President Mary Felzkowski.
“They told us how they work and what they do and how they got there,” Meydam said. “It was just kind of an interesting experience seeing the capitol. I think it would be cool working in the capitol instead of in some other job. It doesn’t seem as interesting. It’d be good to do something different.”
The WBHS Student Senate also held a taco bar as a fundraiser for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, according to Molly Meydam, another senator. The event included 50-50 raffles, basket raffles and other donations, as well as a dinner.
Centeno said the senate also raised funds locally to help the nearby community of Ringle, which was impacted by tornadoes in April. She noted the senate was planning a fundraiser for Earth Day at the time, but after hearing about the storm damage, the students immediately shifted the fundraiser to help tornado victims.
“As much as we try to donate to larger organizations like St. Jude’s, we also find it important to give back to our own community,” Centeno said.
