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Hudson Waterfield, a student at Centralia High School, recently traveled to Olympia to serve as a page in the Washington state House of Representatives.
Rep. Peter Abbarno was his legislative sponsor.
"Hudson was an exceptional page and represented his community and school very well," said Abbarno, R-Centralia. "He approached every task with enthusiasm and professionalism, and seeing his curiosity about the legislative process was inspiring. I'm confident this experience will have a lasting impact on his understanding of civic engagement and public service."
As a page, Hudson learned to navigate the many buildings around the Capitol campus, delivered messages and documents to legislators and staff, and assisted on the House floor. He also attended page school daily to learn about the Legislature's operations. In addition to his daily responsibilities, Hudson completed a page project on law enforcement and the use of body-worn cameras.
"Hudson's choice of project demonstrates a thoughtful interest in public safety and transparency," Abbarno said. "His engagement with such a significant and timely topic shows great leadership potential. Undoubtedly, he will continue to ask important questions and contribute meaningfully to his community."
Hudson enjoys medical courses in his spare time and plays football and select travel baseball year-round on USA Prime NW. He has an impressive 3.9 GPA and is actively involved in his academic and extracurricular pursuits.
Students across Washington apply to participate in the legislative page program each year. Participants spend a week attending page school, learning the inner workings of state government, and assisting legislators on the House floor. Pages earn $65 a day and can accumulate up to 20 hours of community service while serving.
"The page program is one of the most valuable tools for educating our future leaders," Abbarno said. "Hudson embraced this opportunity wholeheartedly, and I hope he came away with not only a deeper understanding of how government works but also with memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. Young people like Hudson give me great hopes for the future."
To qualify for the page program, applicants must have a legislative sponsor, be between the ages of 14 and 16 and obtain written permission from their parents and school. For more information about the House page program, visit leg.wa.gov.
