OLYMPIA—Alexis Kongmanivong, 15, served as a page in the Washington State Senate during the fourth week of the 2016 Legislative Session. Sen. Karen Keiser, D-Kent, sponsored Kongmanivong’s week in the Legislature.
 
“Alexis was a very bright and kind young woman,” said Keiser. “She added great value to our office and I have no doubt she will use well what she learned during her experience.”
 
During their week at the Legislature, pages assist senators and staff, hear lectures from guest speakers, and attend page school where they create their own bills in a mock committee setting. Kongmanivong worked on a bill regarding later school start times. Her bill focused on high schools and proposed a start time between 8 and 9 a.m., to be decided by individual schools.
 
“It was cool to go through the whole bill process and to feel how legislators feel,” she said. “I think it’s a great way — the best way — to learn about the legislative process.”
 
Pages have a variety of responsibilities during their week on campus that allow them to walk the halls of the Capitol and grant them special access around campus. Pages will often deliver documents in small groups and are scheduled with different pages throughout the week. Kongmanivong said this was her favorite aspect of the program and she made many new friends.
 
“Since day one, we’ve all had a connection,” she said. “We all went to lunch together and have grown our friendship.”
 
Kongmanivong said many of her friends have already asked her about how to get into the program. She encouraged anyone to try the program while they can, and had a few words of advice.
“Don’t be shy,” she said. “Make connections and you will have a great time.”
 
Kongmanivong is a sophomore at Mount Rainier High School. She participates in the Young Executives of Color program and envisions a career in business and fashion. She has a passion for traditional Lao dancing and is an advanced dancer and teacher. Kongmanivong participates in an annual exchange program through which she visits Laos along with other dance students.