Hailey Schwarz, a 15-year-old Winlock High School student, recently served as a page in the state House of Representatives in Olympia for state Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen.
"Hailey did a great job this week," Walsh stated in a news release. "I hope she enjoyed her time at the Capitol, making new friends and learning more about the Legislature."
Pages learn to navigate the different buildings around the Capitol Campus, delivering messages and documents to legislators and staff, and assisting on the House floor. Pages also attend page school each day to learn about operations of the Legislature.
"Some things are learned better by doing them. Serving as a House page gives students a distinctive, unique civic education experience that can't be found in a classroom," Walsh said. "For many students, it leads to a lifetime of engagement in local, state, and even national government."
Hailey’s hobbies include volunteering as an associated school body activity coordinator and being active in the Girl Scouts. She is the daughter of Michael and Megan Schwarz.
Students are allowed to participate in the legislative page program during the legislative session each year. Beyond the education gained, during their weeks as pages, students assist legislators on the House floor, earn $50 a day and can earn up to 20 hours of community service.
To become a page, 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 https://leg.wa.gov/House/Pages/HousePageProgram.aspx.
