ML student gets experience in state Senate
Washington State Legislature/courtesy photo State Senator Judy Warnick with her page Mikayla Elena Cooper.
OLYMPIA — Mikayla Cooper, a ninth-grade homeschooled student from Moses Lake, recently spent a week at the Capitol working as a page for the Washington State Senate. Cooper was one of 27 students who served as Senate pages for the seventh week of the 2017 legislative session.
Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, who represents the 13th Legislative District, sponsored her.
“It was delightful having Mikayla page for us this week,” said Warnick. “She’s a hard-working young woman, and I’m sure she’s got a bright future ahead of her.”
The Senate Page Program is an opportunity for Washington students to spend a week working in the Legislature. 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.
“It sounded like a really fun experience,” Mikayla said when asked about why she applied to the Senate Page Program. “I’ve had a great time making all my deliveries, and meeting new people in the different offices!”
Mikayla, 15, enjoys choir, ballet, and sewing. She also runs both track and cross-country. She is the daughter of Casey and Christina Cooper of Moses Lake.
Students interested in the Senate Page Program are encouraged to visit leg.wa.gov/Senate/Administration/PageProgram.