Recently, a group of local students from Fort Wayne and nearby areas got the chance to leave the classroom and serve as Senate pages at the Indiana Statehouse. The program, for students in Grades 6-12, lets them see politics in action up close.
Among the students welcomed by State Sen. Dr. Tyler Johnson (R-Leo) were Joseph Caswell of Bishop Dwenger High School and his peers Adrianne and Andrew Cox, both hailing from Leo-Cedarville, with Adrianne attending Leo Junior High School and Andrew, Leo Elementary School, according to a statement on the Indiana Senate Republicans' website. Christopher Knox from Ascension Lutheran Christian School and Baylor Miller from Lakewood Park Christian School also joined the ranks of those gaining a glimpse of the legislative process.
The page program not only provides an educational tour of the historic Statehouse but also a chance for these young individuals to observe debates from the Senate floor and interact with their state senator, creating a tangible connection with the mechanics of state government. "Meeting with young Hoosiers who are eager to learn about our state government is one of my favorite parts of the legislative session," Johnson said, signaling his enthusiasm for dispatching knowledge to the new generation, as per Indiana Senate Republicans' website.
Notably, the program runs on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays throughout the legislative session; however, groups serve on Wednesdays, opening the door wide for a more hands-on learning experience and possibly inspiring these young minds to consider public service in their future endeavors. As the session marches on, Johnson awaits more encounters with the state's budding leaders, and within those interactions, one can imagine the seeds of ambition and civic duty being quietly sown.
