Pittsville Student Selected for Young People’s Continental Congress

Monday, April 21st, 2025 -- 10:00 AM

(Erinn Taylor, WSAW) There are about 570 students in the Pittsville School District.

According to Erinn Taylor with WSAW, this summer, one of those kids is representing Wisconsin on the national stage as a part of the Young People’s Continental Congress.

“We are going to be going to Philadelphia, and exploring what the first delegates of our nation did,” sophomore Olivia Moore told NewsChannel 7. In Philadelphia, she will join 26 other student delegates from across the country, who will make up the congress.

“I was really excited, because I didn’t really expect it,” Moore said of being chosen. “We’re kind of coming from a small school, so it’s really great to represent Wisconsin on a national level.”

Kate Van Haren, who taught Moore social studies when she was in 4th and 5th grades, will join Moore on the journey. Van Haren said Moore was working as a Teaching Assistant in her classroom when she opened the email about the opportunity.

“She was helping one of the students, and I know her passion for social studies, and I’m like, this would be really cool,” Van Haren said. The pair submitted essays and were picked from a pool of candidates from the Badger State.

They’ll be representing Wisconsin and their small community. “We need rural representation, especially in the state of Wisconsin,” Van Haren said. “We have such a large rural population.”

Moore added, “It’s a really big honor, and I went up to Ms. Van Haren and gave her a big, humongous hug. I was so excited.” She is excited to see the landmarks that she has read about in history books:

“Carpenter’s Hall and seeing the Liberty Bell and all of the other landmarks in Philadelphia,” Moore said. Van Haren is looking forward to sharing the experience with her student.

“I’m so excited to take this kid to see the places that I love,” she said. “To have a student who’s so interested in these topics makes my teacher heart really, really happy.” The pair will make the trip in July.

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