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West Salem juniors Kelsey Pischke and Kristin Stockheimer are easily among the busiest students in West Salem High School. Both girls are honor students, three-sport athletes and active participants in several clubs and community service projects. Now they are also the school’s 2008 Badger State representatives.

The two spent the week of June 16 studying the science of government at a camp held on the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh campus.

During their stay, they worked with other participants to create their own 51st “state” and run a government that functions according to the laws of the State of Wisconsin. The participating students are elected to positions in the states government and develop their own platforms. Badger State was designed as a part of the American Legion Auxiliary’s Americanism program as a means of developing citizenship and greater understanding of American traditions and system of government.

“Being able to run our own student government is an experience that will only come once. Actually participating in how a government is run will show me how real government works,” said Stockheimer before the event.

The participants, referred to as “citizens,” become members of the “Nationalist” or “Federalist” party and develop platforms and formulate their own issues. They also function on city, county and state levels of government by electing officials and participating in the various levels of the process themselves.

Pischke explained that she was thankful for the experience that the Badger State experience presents.

“It is great to be in a community that has opportunities like Badger State for high school students. Also, Badger State is a great way to receive scholarships,” Pischke said.

“I believe that this experience will give me a greater perspective on how government is run by allowing my peers and me to run one ourselves.”