South Dakota offers high school students plenty of opportunities to explore different careers. Programs like Avera Academy, HOSA- Future Health Professionals, and job shadowing allow students to get hands-on experience in various fields. However, one of the most exciting and unique opportunities is serving as a legislative page in the state capitol.
Each year, high school juniors and seniors from across the state are selected to assist lawmakers during the South Dakota Legislative Session. If you’ve ever visited the capitol during the session, you’ve probably seen them- easily recognized by their yellow or blue shirts- delivering coffee, running mail, and copying vote counts for both Representatives and Senators. This year, I had the honor of being chosen as one of these pages by the Speaker of the House, Jon Hansen. This experience was nothing short of incredible.
The process to become a Legislative Page starts with the application. One of the most critical parts is obtaining a legislator’s signature- preferably someone representing your district. This step ensures that each page has a connection to the legislative process and a familiar face before arriving at the capitol. Along with the signature, applicants must also submit a cover letter explaining why they should be chosen and what they hope to gain.
Once the application has been mailed to Pierre, students wait until early December for approval. Along with an official letter stating if they were accepted, pages also receive a manual and details about their assigned term. For this year, out of all the applicants, only about 104 were chosen. According to Michelle De-Yo, current Page Advisor, next year the application process will be more competitive, only accepting 90-95 students. It shows how competitive this program can be, so being chosen is an honor that comes with the responsibility of representing not only your family but also your school and the entire district.
Speaking from personal experience, I would recommend applying. I met many interesting people from all over the state. Along with meeting several of the Sioux Falls area representatives and senators and my district’s representatives, I had the opportunity to meet the Governor, Larry Rhoden of Sturgis, and Lieutenant Governor, Tony Venhuizen of Sioux Falls. Not only did I get to meet important people in our state, but I also got to go up into the capitol’s dome area. This area is only accessible for Legislative Pages and certain people around the capitol.
In conclusion, if this experience interests you, reach out to your local legislators or apply through the legislative website.
