Kiet Tuan Tran’s submission highlights camping in Wisconsin. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR
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The Wisconsin DNR announced that Delavan-Darien High School junior Kiet Tuan Tran is the winner of the 2027 Wisconsin State Park and Forest vehicle admission pass design contest.
The design features one of the Wisconsin State Park System’s most popular outdoor activities: camping in the woods.
“We were really impressed by the creativity of this year’s pass design winner,” said Steve Schmelzer, DNR Bureau Director of Parks and Recreation Management. “It’s such a fun nod to Wisconsin; if there are two things Wisconsinites love most, it’s spending time outdoors and cheese.”
The DNR-sponsored design contest is open to artwork submissions from high school-age students attending Wisconsin’s public, private or parochial schools or home-schools. The annual contest, now in its 36th year, received more than 120 submissions for the 2027 pass design.
The second-place winner is Olive Minell, who is homeschooled, and the third-place recipient is Samantha Kramer of Grantsburg High School.
The 2027 Honorable Mentions are:
- Cadence Zernzach, Hortonville High School
- Christian Gonzalez Gibson, Delavan-Darien High School
- Hadleigh Maher, Cedarburg High School
- Ian OGara, Grantsburg High School
- Mindy Barta, Rice Lake High School
- Olivia Johnson, Ashwaubenon High School
- Skylarr Martin, Rhinelander High School
- Svatava Ruszová, Rice Lake High School
- Tyler Pagels, Hortonville High School
Buy Your 12-Month State Park Vehicle Admission Pass
Vehicle admission passes provide access to more than 60 state park, forest and recreation area properties across Wisconsin. A 12-month admission pass or daily admission pass is required on all motor vehicles entering state parks and recreation areas. Some state forest and trail parking areas also require a vehicle pass.
Admission passes can be purchased online, at individual properties, from DNR service centers, when renewing your vehicle registration online or at self-service kiosks at Wisconsin Division of Motor Vehicles locations. Admission revenues fund Wisconsin State Park System operations.
Now Accepting Entries For 2028 Design Contest
The DNR is accepting artwork entries from high school students for the 2028 Wisconsin State Park and Forest vehicle admission pass design contest. Artwork entries should focus on outdoor recreation, animals or plants in Wisconsin.
Materials for the 2028 pass design contest are now available, and students can submit entries through April 30, 2027.
Rules, submission guidelines, tips for a winning design and past pass design winners are available on the DNR’s State Park Pass Design Contest webpage.
