Shelby Harris of DuPont,a ninth grader at Steilacoom High School, spent a week working as a page for the Washington State Senate at the Capitol in Olympia. Harris was one of 29 students who served as Senate pages for the sixth week of the 2019 legislative session. As part of the Honor Guard on Wednesday, Feb. 20, Harris was flag-bearer at the opening of the daily session.
Harris was sponsored by 28th Legislative District Sen. Steve O’Ban, R-University Place. Sen. O’Ban serves Pierce County, including Steilacoom, Fircrest and University Place.
“Shelby was an outstanding page,” Sen. O’Ban said. “She was prepared for hard work and interested in learning from those around her, and it paid off.”
The Senate Page Program provides an opportunity for Washington students to spend a week working at the Legislature. Students transport documents between offices, as well as deliver messages and mail. Pages spend time in the Senate chamber and attend page school to learn about parliamentary procedure and the legislative process. Students also draft their own bills and engage in a mock session.
“My favorite part of the program was the opportunity to meet other pages from all across the state,” Harris said. “I had the opportunity to learn from their own perspectives, and in a broader sense, that is what the Legislature is all about.”
Harris enjoys playing soccer and photography.
Harris, 15, is the daughter of Lee Correa and Kendralee Harris of DuPont.