Estevan Garcia and Alexis “Blu” Warner served as pages in the Washington State Senate during the first week of April.
Pages are sponsored by the senator from their legislative district. Sen. Claire Wilson (D-Auburn) sponsored their week at the Legislature.
“Our office had a great time hosting Estevan and Blu for their week at the Capitol,” Wilson said. “I hope they enjoyed their time here. I know they saw and learned a lot.”
The page program offers a hands-on opportunity for students to find out how state government works. The educational experience is enhanced by guest speakers and includes classes with topics such as budget writing and how a bill becomes a law — which culminates in pages creating their own bills in a mock committee setting.
Garcia, 15, and Warner, 16, worked together on a bill aimed at increasing the orca population in Washington. The bill would provide more funding to salmon hatcheries to increase the population of salmon, and thereby increase the population of orcas that feed off the salmon.
Both pages said they valued their interactions with senators and staff.
“I enjoyed talking to the security guards and hearing all their stories,” Garcia said. “I really liked watching the floor action and listening to senators talk about their bills.”
“It was go great to work with Sen. Wilson and have lunch with her,” Warner said. “She listened to my ideas and has helped me a lot this week to understand how a state government functions.”
Pages also have the opportunity to work on the Senate floor. Their maroon coats and credentials allow them access to all parts of the Capitol Campus.
Garcia is in the 9th grade at West Auburn High School. In his free time, he enjoys crafting and making things from scratch. Warner is a 10th grader at Decatur High School in Federal Way. In her free time, she works on short animation films. She produces and directs movies for film festivals and for school.
