Madeleine Bohn, a senior at West High School, was recognized on Apr. 14 with the Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education Student of the Year Award for her contributions to environmental education and academic achievement.
The award highlights the growing role of students in advancing climate awareness and sustainability efforts within their communities. The Madison Metropolitan School District Board serves more than 26,000 students and maintains 53 schools, including elementary, middle, high, and alternative programs, according to the official website.
Bohn’s involvement in environmental work includes serving as Wisconsin director of the Youth Environmental Press Team—a national platform for high school journalists covering climate topics—and organizing the Wisconsin Youth Climate Conference. She also co-leads a youth group within Madison’s Citizens’ Climate Lobby chapter that meets with residents and politicians to support climate legislation. At West High School, she is co-president of the Green Club and works closely with district staff on eco-friendly projects such as restoring school gardens.
“I’ve always been an outdoorsy kid, so naturally coming with that is the realization that we have to protect the planet and fight for keeping our natural spaces clean,” Bohn said. “I also hope this recognition allows me to uplift all the other people who are doing important sustainability work.”
Bohn has also made an impact through writing. She served as Madison’s inaugural Youth Poet Laureate in 2022-23 and contributed to national anthologies while advocating for accessible science communication through storytelling. “We build so many walls to prevent access to learning, but people don’t associate poetry with resistance, per se,” Bohn said. “I guess you could almost say people let their guard down when they’re reading something beautiful, and then it opens their minds to something special.”
The Madison Metropolitan School District Board prioritizes equity, inclusion, excellence in education and supports student well-being through health initiatives while serving the Madison community under an elected seven-member board according to its official website.
Looking ahead to university studies possibly focused on science communications or environmentalism, Bohn said: “Science tells us what is happening, but stories remind us why it matters.”
