WMEA News WMEA Advocacy
Committee News Randal Swiggum,
Advocacy Committee Chair
An element of the WMEA mission state- ment calls upon our association to serve as an advocacy lead for music education in Wisconsin. A significant focus is to sup- port our elected government leaders at the state and federal levels with understanding the opportunities and challenges we face and providing them with actions in support of student, educator and school needs.
Benjamin Heninger (right) chats with a staffer from Sen. Eric Wimberger’s office. 2025 WMEA Service Awards
There are many ways to honor our colleagues, music parents, members of our boards of education, school and district administrators, music business owners and representatives, legislators or someone who has made a significant impact on our profession.
One meaningful option is a nomination for our WMEA Service Awards. WMEA provides opportunities for the following recognition:
• Community Service Award • Distinguished Administrator Award • Distinguished School Board Award - NEW Option!* • Government Leadership Award - NEW Option!* • Music Industry Award • Michael G. George Distinguished Service Award
• Melvin F. Pontious Creative Sparks in Music Education Award
• Richard G. Gaarder Award • 25 Years of Service Recognition
• Wisconsin Award for Excellence in Teaching Music (WMEA- & WSMA-Sponsored) - NEW Option!*
*We have updated opportunities with three awards in the past year: • Distinguished School Board Award can now go to an individual or a partial/full school board.
• Government Leadership Award can now go to any elected or appointed public official at the local, state or
federal levels.
• Wisconsin Award for Excellence in Teaching Music recipients in secondary music will also be nominated as
the Wisconsin representative for the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Outstanding Music Educator Award, if eligible.
Wisconsin School Musician
Will Janssen (left) and Laurie Fellenz (center) meet with a staffer from Rep. Todd Novak’s office.
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As there was significant redistricting in Wisconsin, many of our 2025 Capitol
Conversations participants found themselves with new represen- tation; therefore, the meeting goals this year were to establish or reinforce open communication with our government representa- tives by building relationships as a key piece of the meeting.
In 2025, our Capitol Conversations asks included: acknowledg- ing the fundamental importance of music and the arts as critical parts of a well-rounded education for all students (ESSA 2015), including support for current and future legislation that continues access and funding, recognizing the critical role that music and arts education play in developing 21st century workforce skills and raising Wisconsin’s arts funding to $1 per capita through the Wisconsin Arts Board, our state agency dedicated to the arts.
A copy of the full 2025 WMEA Capitol Conversations Legislator Document can be found here.
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