October 2007
This really is the chance of a lifetime.
Dear friend:
Every few years, I'm able to offer a young person from the First Congressional District of Hawaii an opportunity for a once-in-a-lifetime experience: enrollment in one of the most demanding and rewarding work-study programs in the country. I have the privilege of sponsoring a Hawaii high school junior for the Congressional Page Program in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington D.C.
The Congressional Page Program puts a student in the middle of democracy in action, lets them see first-hand how laws are made, and gives them the chance to get to know other students from every state in the country.
It is highly competitive. Students applying for sponsorship for the Spring 2008 program, from January 27 through June 6, must meet these requirements:
- 3.0 Grade Point Average
- High School Junior
- Reside in the First Congressional District of Hawaii (Honolulu, Aiea, Pearl City, Ewa Beach, Mililani and most of Waipahu).
- 16 years old by January 2008
NOTE: THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION IS NOVEMBER 2, 2007.
Applicants must provide:
- A complete Congressional Page Program application
- Social Security Number
- Parental consent form
- Official transcript of high school grades
- Written essay (150-200 word biography)
- Resume of extracurricular activities
- Three letters of recommendation
Pages are supervised by adult, full-time House employees and serve principally as messengers, carrying documents between the House and Senate, congressional offices, committees, and the Library of Congress. They also prepare the House chamber for each day's business by distributing the Congressional Record and other documents related to the day's agenda, assist in the cloakroom and chamber, and when the House is in session, sit near the dais where they may be called by House members for assistance.
Pages earn $19,394 annually, with automatic deductions made for federal and state taxes, social security, and the Residence hall fee. Pages are responsible for their uniforms and for travel to and from Washington, D.C.
The House Page School is located in the Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress and is accredited through the Middle States Association of Colloeges andSchools. Classes begin at 6:45 a.m. and include mathematics, English, social studies, science, French/Spanish, computer technology and seminars.
Interested students may obtain the Congressional Page Application and more information by contacting Gail Onuma in my Honolulu office at (808) 541-2570 or email her at gail.onuma@mail.house.gov. The application is also available on my website at http://www.house.gov/abercrombie. Additional information about the program is available at http://pageprogram.house.gov.
Aloha,
Neil Abercrombie
Member of Congress
