Sen. Eric Oemig, D-Kirkland, recently sponsored Tara Stamaris, a 15-year-old from Redmond, as a Senate page.

Students from schools across Washington arrive in Olympia every week to serve in the Senate Page Program at the Washington State Legislature.

Senate pages carry mail between offices and relay messages to the Senate floor. Pages attend page school while working at the legislature. Pages also participate in mock hearings, write their own bills and engage in debates.

Stamaris, a student at Mount Si High School, enjoys playing the guitar, snowboarding and spending time with her friends. She plans to become a magazine editor.

The mock committee hearing was a highlight for Stamaris.

“People would present their bills and we’d ask questions. It was really fun,” she said. “I’ll make sure and vote. There’s a way citizens can pass a bill. I would get involved if there is something I really believe in.”

Page positions provide valuable civic and employment experiences for Washington state youth. For information, visit www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/Administration/PageProgram.