Sylvester Stehr, a homeschool student in Centralia, recently spent a week working as a page for the Washington state Senate at the Capitol in Olympia.
Stehr was one of 27 students as Senate pages for the seventh week of the 2026 legislative session.
He was sponsored by state Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview. Wilson represents the 19th Legislative District, which includes part of Grays Harbor, Lewis, Thurston and Cowlitz counties, and all of Wahkiakum and Pacific counties.
“Sylvester was a great and hardworking page to have this week,” Wilson said in a news release. “Seeing students learn the legislative process through this unique experience is always something I’m excited to see. I hope his week at the Capitol was a rewarding experience.”
The Senate Page Program provides an opportunity for Washington students to spend a week working at the Statehouse. Students transport documents between offices, as well as deliver 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 legislative session.
“There were so many events that I’ll remember for a long time,” Stehr said. “Getting to meet my senator, meet the security staff, and getting to be on the Senate floor was a lot of fun. I would recommend this program to anyone.”
Stehr, 15, the son of Margaret and Christopher Stehr of Centralia, enjoys playing piano and tennis. He said he applied for the Senate Page Program because he is interested in learning more about the Legislature. Highlights of his week included the mock session, which allowed him to draft legislation of his own and participate in thought-provoking discussions.
Students interested in the Senate Page Program are encouraged to visit https://tinyurl.com/33mzmy59.
Page applications for the 2027 legislative session open Nov. 1, 2026.
