Senior Lynelle Essilfie Selected as Maryland General Assembly Page

With contributions by Ethan Ehrenhaft for The Columbia Flier

Lynelle Essilfie, Gator Gazette Senior Editor, is serving as a Maryland General Assembly page during the current 2023 legislative session. A Maryland tradition since 1970, the page program affords students a first-hand look at the democratic process as they pass memos, file papers, and conduct research for two weeks during the 90-day legislative period, which ends April 10.

“Lynelle is a very focused student who takes great pride in embracing new challenges and putting 100 percent of her effort into each assigned task. I am not surprised that she was selected for this prestigious position.”

Ms. Jill Lee, Library Media Specialist, Video Production Teacher, HoCo Film Fest Advisor

The Maryland General Assembly student pages program is an exceptional opportunity for students interested in politics and government to learn about the legislative process and gain hands-on experience working in the state’s capital. Each year, the Maryland General Assembly selects a group of high school students to serve as pages during the legislative session, which lasts from January to April.

Pages, who must be at least 16 years old, Maryland residents, and current seniors at a Maryland high school, undergo a competitive selection process after being nominated by their respective schools. One hundred and seven pages and alternates, including 10 from Anne Arundel County, three from Carroll County, and six from Harford County, were chosen for the 2023 session.

The student pages work directly with the members of the General Assembly, helping to distribute materials, deliver messages, and perform other tasks as needed. In addition to their duties as pages, students attend committee meetings and floor sessions, allowing them to observe firsthand the lawmaking process in action.

The program is highly competitive, with hundreds of students applying each year for only a handful of positions. To be considered for the program, students must have a solid academic record, excellent communication skills, and a keen interest in politics and government.

Participating in the Maryland General Assembly student pages program is an excellent way for students to gain valuable experience, build their resumes, and learn about the inner workings of state government. It also provides an opportunity for students to make connections and establish relationships with political leaders that could help them in their future careers.

Many former student pages have gone on to successful careers in politics and government. For example, former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley and former U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski both served as student pages during their high school years.

Overall, the Maryland General Assembly student pages program is an outstanding opportunity for students interested in politics and government to gain hands-on experience, learn about the legislative process, and network with political leaders.

Howard’s pages say they’re excited to go behind the scenes at the General Assembly, meet their representatives, and learn how local legislation is crafted. Many pages hope the experience will serve as a springboard for future careers in public policy or law. Essilfie said, “I am interested in learning about local, state, and county-level budgets and reforms. I am most excited about experiencing the process at the state house. So much of my work as a student journalist has been about reporting the stories and now I can be part of what’s happening as legislation is being proposed and developed.”

“Lynelle’s willingness to lean into the workshop process, to seek out and integrate feedback, and to infuse her writing with cultural and political purpose all set the class-wide gold standard during her year in Advanced Composition. Her critical advice became desired advice among her classmates as they worked to establish their own voices.”

Mr. Matthew Valvano, English Teacher and Instructional Team Leader

All pages receive a stipend of $55 per day to help defray expenses and can commute to Annapolis or live in lodging arranged by the state’s Page Office. For many of the pages, it will be their first time working with students from across the state, from Appalachia to the Eastern Shore. “I’m looking forward to talking to other people with differing political views [and] different ethical and moral views,” said Song, Wilde Lake’s former student body president and the current president of the Howard County Association of Student Councils. “Even though we’re not the ones actually debating the legislation, it’s still cool to talk about it.”

Student pages are returning in person to Annapolis this year after the program was held online only in 2021 and 2022. Legislators say the students’ absence was felt in the State House. “They add vibrancy to the chamber,” said Del. Courtney Watson, the Howard County delegation co-chair, whose first taste of the page program came in the early 1970s when her older brother participated.

“They remind us about the next generation coming up and we have many opportunities to mentor them.” Watson says the delegation is always scanning for Howard Countians on the list of weekly pages posted to the chamber door. “It’s an invaluable experience for them,” she said. “It’s a blessing for us as well.”