ST. PAUL – November 29 is the application deadline for high school juniors interested in gaining hands-on experience with state government by serving as a page at the Capitol in St. Paul.
The House of Representatives’ page program has been in place for 30 years. It is one of only three programs in the nation to provide young people with an in-depth look into state government. High school pages attend meetings with legislators, assist members during the session, participate in a mock committee session and more. There are nine four-day sessions from early March to mid-May.
“We have had a number of students from our part of the state participate over the years and they always come away with a new perspective of how our state government operates,” said Rep. Bud Nornes, R-Fergus Falls. “This is about as close a look at the House as you can get without being an elected official.”
Program participants are selected in the fall of each year based on a formal process which includes an application, faculty recommendation and an essay. More information is available by logging on to www.house.mn and clicking the “High School Page Program” link, or by calling (651) 296-7175. Local schools also can provide further guidance.
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