The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association salutes the 28 schools that fulfilled criteria to be named recipients of the Award of Excellence in 2025-26.

The award promotes and recognizes the efforts and achievements of schools in the areas of sportsmanship, ethics, integrity, leadership, character and administrative accomplishment.

The recipients of the Award of Excellence, presented to high schools that have verified they have met each of the award’s criteria are Germantown, Lakeside Lutheran and Watertown. 

Of the 28 schools receiving the award this year, 20 have received the award multiple times and nine are first-time recipients. Those eight schools are Arcadia, Cuba City, Ellsworth, Loyal, Mauston, McFarland, Mishicot and Sun Prairie East.

Germantown and Watertown receive the award for the seventh time in the 10 years since the award’s inception, which ties three other schools for the most in the membership. Hilbert and The Prairie School are recipients of the award for the sixth time. 

Recipients will be presented the Award of Excellence at their respective district’s Area Meeting in September and will be recognized for the achievement on the WIAA website and social media, in State Tournament programs and video boards.