In early March, Sen. Tracey Eide, D-Federal Way, sponsored Olga Pilipchuk as a Senate page. Pilipchuk, a 14-year-old from Auburn, is a student at Kilo Middle School.

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 and participate in mock hearings, write their own bills and engage in debates.

Olga enjoys photography and reading.  She is active in her church’s weekly youth service, picking up trash and performing other community service.  She plans to go into the medical field and possibly run for public office.

“When I was on the floor watching the senators, I wanted to raise debates,” Olga said. “In class we have debates, and I’m the only one talking.”  Page positions provide valuable civic and employment experiences for Washington state youth. Additional information on becoming a Senate page is available at http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/Administration/PageProgram.