Students share opportunities for engagement

Badger Girls and Badger Boys State Conferences with Delegate Meredith Stelpflug

Note: Badger Boys has a separate conference for male students.

Q: What is Badger Girls?

Meredith: Badger Girls is a program where you get to go if your school chooses you or if you're invited, and they set up basically a fake government format and throughout the week you elect people to positions, and this helps you learn a lot about local government and county government positions. There’s two political parties that you get split up into, and you get to amend constitutions based on what your political party is, and that involves people being able to go up to a microphone and voice their opinions on hot topics like abortion and gun rights, things like that. It’s held during the summer, I think during June every year. The camp for the girls was at UW-Oshkosh this year. It has moved around as far as I'm aware, but it's always at a college campus. 

Q: What did you learn about government at Badger Girls?

M: I learned a lot about local government, which is something they don't cover a ton in government classes at the high school level, which was neat, and I actually would argue that voting in local elections is more impactful than voting in national elections based on the things I learned there. I also learned a lot about how it is very impactful to talk to a person who votes for their constituents because that's the main way of voting on a local level, is someone represents a group of people, and then they're going to make a decision for your community. You do vote on some things, but it's mostly just the people who make the decisions.

Q: What is a particularly memorable experience from Badger Girls?

M: Meeting the girls that you become close friends with there is pretty much the best part of that week. You get roomed with a random person, and if you aren't from the same school, then obviously you don't know each other, so you form super close bonds with people. You have no idea who they are, and it almost is what I imagine going to college is going to feel like. There's like 500 girls that go, and they break you down into counties and cities, and then Badger Girl Nation, so it’s like we're all a part of a country. So you get really close with the girls that are in your city, and it’s super fun.

Q: How do you use the leadership skills that you learned at Badger Girls? 

M: I guess I’m not afraid to sign up for leadership positions now. As a senior, I’m doing public relations for Student Council, and doing the things that was required of it kind of was intimidating, but that kind of gave me a lot of confidence. Because I went through this hard experience leading into the summer of my senior year, it’s like I can do what senior year is going to push at me, because that was definitely the thing I was scared about.

Q: Why should students get involved in Badger Girls?

M: I think they should get involved because you learn a lot about government, and I think that’s something that a lot of people in our generation don’t do, is go and learn about the basics of how government runs. I think people are really interested in the issues that government deals with, but they don't realize the way it runs, which creates a lot of problems because you're maybe not voicing the right thing. You might be saying, “oh, this needs to change”, but you don't know all the steps of how something like that does get changed. 

Debate Club with Co-President Faateha Ahmad

Question: What is Debate Club?

Faateha: As we’re just starting, we haven’t really formed what Debate Club should be just yet. It’s an idea that was started by me and my friend Reluca, who’s a freshman. We're both really passionate on the topic of politics—or just like any serious topic going on, it doesn’t have any politics—but we were like, we really don’t ever get to talk about that at school, because school essentially is apolitical. I respect and I understand that. It’s a place to learn and a place to educate students; of course, it has to have a political element. But we were both in Mock Trial together, and she’s also in Forensics, so we knew there was potential for creating debate clubs because we’re both good at debating or both argumentative people essentially. We were like, hey, with everything that’s going on right now, the heightened sense of like political activity, it would be great if we could make a respectful, safe area where people could come and offer their opinions, and explain to other students, their peers, what they think and what they want to do for the world, or what their views are on certain things. It’s just a respectful, nice place to understand what other people are thinking at this time. 

Q: What sort of activities will Debate Club lead?

F: Mainly, I think me and Raluca have decided that we want either one-on-one debates between students, or group debates. We haven't really decided the format yet, but we want passion. We want people to be allowed to be passionate about what they’re speaking out for, or what their opinions are, but we also of course want it to be a respectful area where we’re not insulting or hurting anybody. It doesn’t have to be researched. It can be researched. It’s really open, really casual. 

Q: How are you planning for the future of Debate Club?

F: We haven’t gotten our first meeting yet. Mr. Smasal is our staff advisor, so he’s offering his room up for a W Hour once in a while. We'll be on the announcements, too, hopefully talking about it, and hopefully we'll have some interaction with the students and see if they actually want to go into doing debate; if that’s the thing that they're looking into. 

Q: Why should students get involved in Debate Club?

F: I know a lot of people are wary of political ideologies, or to present them at school in such a way, and I understand that. We’re going to have various topics. It’s not just going to be like current political interests. It can be like past events. It can be the future of AI, the future of technology, it can be anything. You don’t need to come in every time. It should be something you look forward to, not a burden, and we’re also talking about lighter topics like what folder color goes with what subject. You have an opportunity to go see and educate yourself and what other people are thinking. I think that’s a great skill to have, because if you know what other people want and how people view things, you can become a lot better of a citizen, a lot better of a person at the school and in the world in general. And if you understand people better, that gives you just a better sense of community, a better sense of purpose.

Gender Sexuality Alliance with Student Representative Officer Veronica Holladay

Question: What is the Gender Sexuality Alliance?

Veronica: GSA is a student-organized club focused on providing a safe space and advocating for LGBTQ+ students and allies at West. 

Q: What sort of social/political advocacy does GSA engage in?

V: GSA is affiliated with a few community organizations (Diverse and Resilient, Oshkosh Pride), and advertises their services to club members. We also often encourage members of the club to engage in opportunities for political expression (typically for causes associated with/in support of LGBTQ+ rights). Every year, we spread awareness around Transgender Day of Remembrance, and in the past, we’ve attempted to fundraise for relief for Palestinians. We’ve also used the club to advertise things like protests or boycotts. Many GSA members also were present at the anti-ICE walkout protest in February.

Q: What other activities or initiatives has GSA led?

V: GSA has, in recent years, taken a very social approach. GSA offers nearly weekly activities focused on building community and promoting health/happiness. Some of our guidance officers (a leadership role that we have to provide guidance and advice to club members that may need it) have been leading journalling sessions with a focus on mindfulness and self-love. We've also done things such as our recent celebration in January in order to celebrate LGBTQ+ identities at West.

Q: What are GSA's goals for the future?

V: We want to become more widely known. Some people, including queer students here, don't even really know we exist. We also want to lead more impactful initiatives and help contribute to genuine social progress, becoming more prominent in the school and community. We’d also like to be taken more seriously compared to the other clubs and organizations in the school. We’ve noticed that even when working with groups like Humanity First, it’s been hard to get people to view and treat GSA with respect.

Q: Why should students get involved in GSA?

V: GSA is a great place for diverse students at West to meet kind, friendly people who genuinely want to create a better, happier future. Community is extremely important, especially for young LGBTQ+ individuals—the care that this community can provide the students here with is unlike anything else available for young people in Oshkosh. 

Turning Point USA with President Brekken Urban

Question: What is Turning Point USA?

Brekken: Turning Point USA is a conservative organization. It was owned by Charlie Kirk, and then he died, and then [his wife] Erica Kirk took over as a CEO. Each state has a representative, and they are in charge of encouraging students to start chapters at high schools and colleges. If I wanted to host events at West myself, I could, once we have an advisor and it’s official with the school, but they also hold events at places in Oshkosh. They also will give us supplies for the tabling stands. We can have the pins and the forms and just ways to advertise the Turning Point USA chapter. 

Q: How is TPUSA planning for the future?

B: I have dozens of people that have contacted me asking to join the Turning Point USA chapter. The chapter at Oshkosh West isn't official yet because we have to find a teacher advisor and then we have to fill out a form with Mr. Jodarski to start a club. We’ve been having issues finding a teacher advisor because a lot of teachers are either not willing to do it because they’re afraid of what their co-workers will say or their students would say or they don't swing that way on the political spectrum, so that’s an issue we’ve been running into. 

Q: What sort of activities will TPUSA lead?

B: I would say the first thing that we would do is just host events in the classroom and talk about what we’re going to do with this chapter. I think we start with that, and then we could do tabling events outside the school or after school, or if there’s a club fair at the school. I really wanted to do freshman orientation, but it wasn’t an official club. We will lead tabling events to recruit other members, and spread awareness about the conservative movement, even if people choose not to join, but still align with the same core beliefs and values.

Q: Why should students get involved in TPUSA?

B: If students are a part of the conservative movement, then they should join because most conservatives choose not to participate in activism because, well, they don't feel the need to, but if they want to push back against the "woke agenda," then they should join us.

Youth2Youth Advocates for Justice with Secretary Genna Williams

Question: What is Youth2Youth Advocates for Justice?

Genna: Y2Y is a really fun club, and it’s a great way to make connections and meet kids who also want to make a difference and help, and also bring up issues and ideas they have. It’s a student-run group that partners with a lot of other clubs, and we’re really focused on making sure students feel included at West, or empowering them in the community.

Q: What sort of political or social leadership does Y2Y engage in?

G: Y2Y engages with all kinds of activism. We basically just help give voices and show our support for people who are in pain or suffering or just going through things. We give voices to the lesser known groups at West, and kids who we know aren’t as vocal and want to share their experiences. We helped build the ICE walkout. We did Multicultural Thanksgiving with Multicultural Club, and that one’s really fun because you meet other kids and you share all kinds of dishes. During the Homecoming parade, we helped with the GSA float, and we’re also working on a display right now to help showcase the other clubs.

Q: Why should people get involved in Y2Y?

G: I think people should get involved with Y2Y because it’s a student-run group, and it teaches you such great leadership. You can discuss what you want to, or what issues and concerns you have, and you can share your thoughts. You can be honest and just feel like you’re not being judged, so say, “I really think we should maybe do some more support for this foundation, or maybe we should social show support for this situation or problem. It’s freeing to surround yourself with kids who also care and want to make a difference, and it helps create such a nice environment.

Youth Leadership Oshkosh with Participant Fayth Meyer

Question: What is Youth Leadership Oshkosh?

Fayth: It’s basically a program for students from all schools across Oshkosh to come together once a month, and we basically just go to community events, or learn more about the town and each person’s job—like police, firefighters, the city hall—and what their role is for people.

Q: What have you learned about government through YLO?

F: We’ve only met a few times so far, but from the times that we have, I could use the time that we went to the city hall for an example. I guess it’s not entirely government, but it has to do with it because they’re the government of Oshkosh in a way. They decide what happens with the environment, they have elections, so I would just say that on that trip we learned quite a bit about everybody's role.

Q: What is one particularly memorable experience that you've had at YLO? 

F: Probably when we went to the fire station. We all tried on firefighter suits, and we had to race each other and do a little obstacle course. We had to grab a hose that was filled with water, and we had to run across the garage in these big suits so that was pretty fun. And then we had Firehouse Subs after. 

Q: What sort of skills have you learned from YLO? 

F: I’ve learned to be friends with everybody in that group, because it is pretty diverse. For an example, with religion, it is really nice to know all these different kinds of people who have different beliefs and everything. So, I guess I’ve learned to be put in a like environment with people, who are more diverse. And then obviously leadership and social skills. 

Q: Why should people get involved with YLO? 

F: I just think it’s a good program to be in because you get to meet all these different kinds of people from different schools, and then you also get to learn more about your community. We got to tour the college in Oshkosh, which is pretty cool. I just think it’s a good experience, and it’s really fun, too, and kind of chill, like we always get snacks and food and water.

by Aria Boehler

Published March 2, 2026

Oshkosh West Index Volume 122 Issue V