Daniel Hoel, a 10th- grade homeschooled student from Centralia, spent a week working as a page for the Washington State Senate at the Capitol in Olympia. Daniel was one of 15 students who served as Senate pages for the first week of the 2017 legislative session.

He was sponsored by Senator John Braun, who represents the 20th Legislative District.

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.

“I really enjoyed being on the floor of the Senate chamber, and we got to see a little bit of the argumentation between the partisans,” Daniel said when asked about his favorite parts of the Senate Page Program.

Daniel, 16, enjoys participating in debate, playing the piano, driving, and reading. He also likes outdoor activities such as fly fishing and camping.

He is the son of Ginnie and Michael Hoel of Centralia.

Students interested in the Senate Page Program are encouraged to visit: https://leg.wa.gov/Senate/Administration/PageProgram/