The following was provided by the Senate Page Program:
Kaushik Vudathu, 15, served as a page in the Washington State Senate during the week of Feb. 11.
Pages are sponsored by the Senator from their legislative district, or by another senator in the legislature. Senator Bob Hasegawa, D-Tulalip, sponsored Vudathu’s week in the Legislature.
“It was a privilege to host Kaushik at the Capitol this week,” said Hasegawa. “I hope that he enjoyed his time with the Legislature.”
The page program offers a hands-on opportunity for students to find out how state government works. The educational experience is furthered by guest speakers. It also includes classes with topics like budget writing and how a bill becomes a law, which culminates in pages creating their own bills in a mock committee setting.
“Working with everyone was probably my favorite part of being a page,” said Vudathu. “It feels like you’re really involved in the system, and you get such a great feel for how everything works and happens every day.”
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.
Vudathu is in 10th grade at Raisbeck Aviation High School, where he is an officer in the Key Club and greatly enjoys volunteering. In his free time, he is also an active participant in the Team America Rocketry Challenge, and is interested in aerospace engineering.
