Merkley urges students to apply for Senate page program

Senator Jeff Merkley announced Monday that he will be accepting applications to the U.S. Senate Page Program. From now until Friday, May 18, students who will be juniors during the 2018-19 school year have an opportunity to apply to be part of the Page Program in fall 2018.

The highly competitive Senate Page Program provides students with first-hand experience of Senate operations. Pages play a critical role in the daily work of the U.S. Senate by helping to deliver correspondence, legislative material, amendments and bills around the Congressional complex and during Congressional proceedings. Only 30 page positions are available among 100 senators.

“My message to young leaders is this: Get informed and get involved in the political process to create the change you wish to see in the world. The Senate Page Program is an excellent way for young Americans to do exactly this,” Merkley said. “I encourage all eligible Oregonians to apply and take advantage of this unique opportunity to come to our nation’s Capital and see firsthand the inner workings of Congress.”

Last summer, Merkley welcomed the first Senate page to be sponsored by his office: Joy Day, a Salem native and 4.0 student at South Salem High School who excelled in academics, dance, and the performing arts. This spring, Nicolas Avendano, a junior at Cleveland High School in Portland, served as the second Senate Page sponsored by Merkley’s office. He is on his school’s We The People Constitution Team, plays violin, and practices Taekwondo.

Senate pages must be appointed and sponsored by a Senator. Unlike interns who work in the Senators’ offices, pages work for the Senate as a whole. Pages receive a stipend, live in a dormitory near the Capitol, and attend classes in addition to performing their page duties.

Interested participants should apply online and must upload the following items:

· An official copy of your high school transcript(s);

· A current resume;

· A cover letter explaining why you wish to be a Senate page;

· A letter of recommendation from one of your teachers;

· A letter of recommendation from a supervisor familiar with your work on a job or in volunteer service;

· A short essay (250 to 500 words) responding to the question, “Describe one major problem that the United States is currently facing and – if you were a U.S. Senator from Oregon – how you would try to fix that problem.”

Click HERE for more information about the page application process. For any questions or for further assistance, please contact Merkley’s office at 202-224-3753.