Student learns the legislative process

Kyle Metscher, a student at Liberty Middle School, recently spent a week as a page for the Washington State Senate at the Capitol in Olympia.

Metscher was one of 12 students who served as Senate pages for the fourth week of the 2015 legislative session.

He was sponsored by 18th Legislative District Sen. Ann Rivers (R-La Center).

The Senate Page Program is an opportunity for Washington students to spend a week working in the Legislature, according to a press release from Rivers’ office.

Students are 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.

“I thought it would be a great experience to be up here for a while because I had only been here a couple times before,” Metscher said. “My favorite part was delivering the messages. It’s really fun when the Capitol gets especially busy because it brings up the energy level.”

Added Rivers, “Working as a page offers students a great opportunity to learn about government and parliamentary procedure. Kyle is a hard worker and I am glad he participated in the program.”

Metscher, 14, first made contact with Rivers to discuss the Columbia River Crossing.

He plans to attend Central Washington University to become a pilot. He has been playing the trumpet for three years and participates in Science Olympiad. He lists Ayn Rand as his favorite author.

He is the son of Caralynn and Jeffrey Metscher of Camas.

Students interested in the Senate Page Program can learn more at www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/Administration/PageProgram/.