Idaho U.S. Senate Pages Making Their Mark

Washington, D.C. - Two Idaho students are spending an interesting summer working on the floor of the United States Senate. Idaho Senator Mike Crapo assisted the Idaho high school students with their applications into the Senate Page Program. Both began assisting Senators on the floor of the Senate and with day-to-day operations, including writing a prayer to open the Senate at the request of the Senate Chaplain.

Hannah Joy Coad is from Sagle, Idaho, and will be a junior next fall at Classical Christian Academy in Post Falls. She has won several awards as a member of speech and debate teams in Idaho, including several first place finishes in regional debates sponsored by the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. She has a 4.0 grade point average and has served as a volunteer at Kootenai Medical Center.

Coad received a special opportunity when a prayer she had written, at the request of Senate Chaplain Barry Black, was used to open the daily Senate proceedings on Wednesday, June 23.

Soren Jacobsen Schmidt is from Rexburg, Idaho, and will be a junior next fall at Madison High School. He also has extensive history in debate and served an internship in the Idaho Legislature.

Schmidt has served the community, maintained high grades and has earned the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts. He has been actively engaged in the National Honor Society, Key Club and other leadership activities.

U.S. Senate rules stipulate that Senate Pages must be high school juniors and maintain high academic standards. They are sponsored by Senators, but not every Senator can place Senate Pages each session.

According to the description of the Senate Page Program, pages meet some of the Nation's "most prominent leaders and witness firsthand the political debates of the United States Senate." Their duties include delivering correspondence and legislative materials within the U.S. Capitol Complex. They are paid for their efforts and serve a four-week term during the summer months. Applications can be made through the U.S. Senate or members of the Senate.

Editor note: Pictures of the Idaho Senate Pages are available by contacting Crapo's office through the numbers listed above. A video of the prayer offered by Hannah Coad is available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tReh3uA2gk