Van Werven sponsors two Lynden Christian students in House Page Program
Jenna Walters and Isabella Almlie, students at Lynden Christian High School, spent their April spring break week serving as pages in the Washington State House of Representatives. They were sponsored by their 42nd District Rep. Luanne Van Werven.
The House Page Program is designed to educate students on the legislative process and expose them to the work being done at their state capital. During their week in Olympia students attended page school every day to understand the operations and actions of the Legislature. As a culminating project, Jenna and Isabella drafted legislation that would clean groundwater surrounding the Hanford nuclear site. They presented the bill to fellow pages during a mock committee hearing, stating elimination of contaminants using thermal desorption would protect the nearby Columbia River from harmful radioactivity and dangerous chemicals.
“The girls enjoyed drafting a bill and following it to the end of the legislative process. They were very passionate about their issue,” said Van Werven R-Lynden. “Both felt it was fascinating to see how government works up close. Jenna and Isabella have a new appreciation of the laws we pass and how they impact their lives. The girls highly recommend paging to their friends and all young people.”
Jenna is the daughter of Jeff and Susan Walters of Blaine. Isabella is the daughter of Bill and Lande Almlie of Everson.
Jenna is a freshman at Lynden Christian High School where she is actively involved in the musicals and chamber choir.
Isabella is part of the student council at Lynden Christian. She enjoys singing and theater and is the choir section leader at her school. She also runs track and cross country.
To become a page, applicants must have a legislative sponsor, be between the ages of 14 and 16, and obtain written permission from their parents and school. Pages earn $35 per day while serving in the program. For more information about the House Page Program, visit: http://www.leg.wa.gov/House/Pages/HousePageProgram.aspx.
