Many first-year college students anxiously await summer break and some hard-earned time away from the intensity of their studies.
However, for Will Bevers, a University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire sophomore majoring in biomedical engineering, summer is “full steam ahead” on academics. Bevers opted to continue his studies and research through the summer, working 40-hour weeks as a research assistant in a materials science lab.
This week, Bevers is volunteering as a staff member for Badger Boys State, hosted by UW-Eau Claire for the fourth year in a row.
“I was a high school participant in BBS, and this is my second time working for the program,” says Bevers, a Stevens Point native.
“Despite my busy summer, it was important to me to return and give back to the program that had such a positive impact on my personal and student success.”
Engaging in leadership growth
Badger Boys State is a civic leadership program for Wisconsin students entering their senior year of high school, nominated to attend by their teachers for displaying character, leadership and good citizenship.
UW-Eau Claire earned the bid for program host in 2021 and has hosted 800-900 participants every June since 2022.
Bevers, whose role in the program is an “assistant city counselor,” explains that the BBS structure teaches and promotes civic engagement through simulation of government structure and activities at city, county and state levels.
“Everything is based on a two-party system, but no actual American politics are involved,” Bevers says. “We keep real-world political issues off limits. One student party, for example, might run their campaign on a platform of being able to assemble on the roof of Towers Hall. Some groups get a little silly with proposals, but that reinforces that learning about these processes can be fun and realistic.”
Over the course of the week, Bevers says, candidates are selected, town halls and elections are held, laws are passed — all while the student citizens learn and polish skills in communication, public speaking and civil discourse.
Bevers says it is rewarding to see BBS attendees find the types of personal growth he got from the program.
“Growth in confidence is the biggest return we see in students,” he says. “By running for government positions, giving speeches, trying new things and building connections with other citizens, participants of BBS grow their confidence in themselves and in their skills.
A mutually beneficial partnership
When UW-Eau Claire sought the opportunity to host BBS, it was a way to support the long-running state program, but also an exciting opportunity to expose high school students from across the state to the campus.
Bevers is a great example of the talented students who choose to become Blugolds after spending a summer week on campus with BBS.
“BBS was one of my first experiences at UWEC and it helped me to realize how much I enjoyed living on this campus,” Bevers says. “I met many other students during my freshman year who were part of Badger Boys State and say it strongly influenced in their decision to apply to UWEC — some even said they would not have considered UWEC had they not done BBS. This program provides very positive exposure for the university.”
Another BBS volunteer this week has been UW-Eau Claire staff member Josh Bach-Hanson, a special assistant in enrollment management. Bach-Hanson says that counselors like Bevers are a key to the program’s long-running success.
“BBS brings some of Wisconsin’s brightest students to this campus,” Bach-Hanson says.
“Nearly all staff who volunteer were once Boys State attendees themselves. New counselors like Will transition seamlessly into the all-volunteer staff after their citizen year and lead meaningful conversations with future leaders. We like to say that Badger Boys State is ‘A Week to Change a Lifetime.’ Impact like that happens because of the incredible leadership shown by young counselors like Will.”
