Gov. Evers Delivers Radio Address Inviting Students and Families to Create Ornaments for 2025 State Capitol Holiday Tree

Audio File of Radio Address.

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today delivered his weekly radio address highlighting “The Learning Tree” as the theme for the 2025 State Capitol Holiday Tree. The governor invited students to contribute handmade ornaments celebrating and thanking Wisconsin’s educators, child care providers, administrators, custodians, school bus drivers, counselors, librarians, school staff, tutors, mentors, after-school program teachers, and all the heroes in their lives who help them learn and support, educate, empower, and inspire them. Gov. Evers, who began 2025 by declaring it the Year of the Kid in Wisconsin, has spent his entire career fighting for Wisconsin’s kids and K-12 public schools, first beginning as a science teacher and going on to become a principal, superintendent, and state superintendent before becoming governor.

The Capitol Holiday Tree is displayed in the rotunda of the Wisconsin State Capitol building throughout the holiday season and serves as a centerpiece of festivity for those visiting and working at the Capitol. Each year, the Capitol Holiday Tree is decorated with handmade ornaments from kids, students, and families from every corner of the state. This year, students are encouraged to make ornaments that reflect what Wisconsin’s educators and all those who help keep Wisconsin’s schools running mean to them.

All students and families are welcome to submit ornaments for “The Learning Tree” and should mail ornaments by Fri., Nov. 21, 2025, to:

Emily Gorman
Wisconsin Department of Administration
Division of Facilities and Transportation Services
17 West Main Street, Suite 119
Madison, WI 53703

Students are asked to make ornaments from non-breakable material. They must be strong enough to hold up during shipping and to be handled while the tree is being decorated. It is recommended that students do not use fragile items or paper cutouts that may tear easily, and that ornaments are 4-6 inches in size and are made from a color that contrasts with the color of the tree so they can easily be seen and enjoyed by all visitors. Please attach a ten-inch loop of ribbon or string from which each ornament will hang.

If you have any questions about an ornament, please contact the Facilities Management Information Center at (608) 266-1485. Please note that ornaments will not be returned.

In addition, Wisconsin’s Capitol Holiday Tree was nominated by USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Public Holiday Lights Display this year, based on recommendations from a panel of experts. To cast your vote for the Wisconsin Capitol Holiday Tree, visit the USA Today 10BEST page and select Best Public Holiday Lights Display to submit your vote by December 1. Votes may be submitted by individuals 18 or older, and are limited to 1 vote per person, per category, per day. See additional rules for details here. Winners will be announced on Wed., Dec. 10, 2025.

More information about the governor’s Capitol Holiday Tree announcement is available here.

Hey there, folks! Governor Tony Evers here.

The holidays are right around the corner, and here at the State Capitol, we’re getting ready to decorate, but we need your help!

Every year, the Capitol’s Holiday Tree is filled with handmade ornaments from kids, students, and families from every corner of Wisconsin, transforming the Capitol Rotunda into the centerpiece of our holiday celebrations, and each year, our tree has a theme.

As many of you know, before I was governor, I was a teacher, principal, superintendent, and state superintendent, and I have long believed that what’s best for our kids is what’s best for our state.

That’s why I declared 2025 the Year of the Kid in Wisconsin, and I can’t think of a better way to wrap up the year than by thanking the folks who are on the frontlines of doing what’s best for our kids.

So, I’m excited to announce our Capitol Holiday Tree theme this year is “The Learning Tree,” and I’m encouraging students to make ornaments that celebrate all the folks who help them learn.

It might be the school bus driver who safely gets you to and from school every day.

Maybe it’s your school librarian who helped you find your new favorite book or your school nurse who makes sure you’re taken care of when you aren’t feeling well.

It could be the custodian who stays late to make sure your classrooms are clean and ready for learning.

Or maybe it’s your teacher who inspires you and helps make sure you can be your best self every day.

Whoever it is, I encourage you to think about what learning means to you, as well as who helps make it fun and possible.

There are so many ways that each of you can apply your creativity to make an ornament that shows the true value of those who have helped you get to where you are today.

And I can’t wait to see what you come up with!

So, thank you so much.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.