Two Wenatchee teens serve as Senate pages for Sen. Brad Hawkins

OLYMPIA — Luke Hawkins and Loren Hensley, both freshmen at Sterling Junior High School in East Wenatchee, served as Senate pages during the week of March 13-17 at the state Capitol in Olympia.

Hawkins and Hensley were sponsored by Sen. Brad Hawkins, R-East Wenatchee, who represents the 12th Legislative District. They were two of 14 students who served as Senate pages during the 10th week of the 2023 legislative session. 

Hawkins and Hensley served as the Page color guard team carrying the American and Washington state flags into the Senate Chamber to begin the day’s proceedings. The pair also attended a committee hearing on Senate Bill 5001, which would support the construction of a regional sports complex in the Wenatchee Valley. Sen. Hawkins said, “It was so fun to have them experience a local issue and to see firsthand how we can join forces to advocate for our communities, which is an important aspect of our representative government.”

“I’m super excited that my son Luke and his best friend Loren could serve as my Senate Pages this week,” Hawkins said. “Recruiting them was sort of a package deal and I’m thankful it was ultimately successful.”

During their Page week, the boys worked on a mock bill that would require insurance companies to prioritize mental health in the same way as physical health. This would allow a patient’s treatment to be covered by their insurance. 

“Being a Page, this past week has been a great experience. I have met many new friends and learned a lot,” Luke Hawkins said.

 “It has been a really cool experience being here in Olympia,” Hensley said. 

Both boys are involved in cross-country and swim team. They also share a similar educational passion, hoping to become engineers. Hensley, 14, is the son of Julia Hensley of Wenatchee. Hawkins, 15, is the son of Brad and Shawna Hawkins of Wenatchee. 

The Senate Page Program gives Washington students between the ages of 14 and 16 an opportunity to spend a week working and learning in the state Legislature. During their time at the Capitol, pages are responsible for transporting documents between offices, providing support to Senate offices, and working on the Senate Floor. Pages also spend their days attending in a classroom-like setting learning about state government, parliamentary procedure, and the legislative process. In addition, pages work together to draft their own bills and engage in a mock legislative session.