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Estela Navarro, a junior from 91ԭ�� High School, recently spent a week at the Capitol working as a page for the Washington State Senate. Estela was one of 16 students who served as Senate pages for the ninth week of the 2017 legislative session.


She was sponsored by Senator Brad Hawkins, who represents the 12th Legislative District.


“Estela has an impressive work ethic,” Hawkins said. “I hope this experience has her considering a future in public service.”


“I’m interested in a career in the legal field,” Estela said when asked about why she applied to the Senate Page Program. “I thought it would be good to learn about how the laws are actually created.”


Estela and other Pages were responsible for transporting documents between offices, as well as delivering 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.


“It was like an actual committee hearing,” says Estela. “The bill that I did was on school start times and how they should be a little bit later for high schools.”


The Senate Page Program is an opportunity for Washington students to spend a week working in the Legislature. 


“I think anyone who is between 14 and 16 should definitely try it out. It's such a good opportunity,” said Estela, who added that only two states, Washington and Virginia, have page programs.


Estela, 16, enjoys playing the clarinet and participating in her school’s marching band. She also likes taking AP classes, and participating in mock trials.


She is the daughter of Deborah and Etzael Navarro of 91ԭ��.


Students interested in the Senate Page Program are encouraged to visit: http://leg.wa.gov/Senate/Administration/PageProgram/