Gabriel Hamilton, 14, served as a page in the Washington State Senate during the week of Jan. 21.<\/p>\n
Sen. Karen Keiser, D-Des Moines, 33rd District, sponsored Hamilton’s week in the Legislature.<\/p>\n
“It was a lot of fun to host Gabriel at the Capitol this week,” Keiser said. “I hope that he enjoyed his time with the Legislature.”<\/p>\n
The page program offers a hands-on opportunity for students to find out how state government works. The interactive learning experience includes classes focused on topics like budget-writing and how a bill becomes a law, which culminates in pages creating their own bills in a mock committee setting. The page school also hosts guest speakers to talk about state government with the students.<\/p>\n
“My favorite part was eating lunch with my sponsor and her staff,” Hamilton said. “We got to talk about politics, and it was a lot of fun.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Hamilton is in eighth grade at St. Francis of Assisi School in Seahurst. In his free time, he loves hiking with his mom and playing with his dog, Lilly. He also loves listening to hip-hop, reading fiction, and hopes to join the Debate Club when he begins high school next year.<\/p>\n