Elisa Dew (class of 2027) is one of 30 high school juniors in the country who have been selected to serve as a page for the US senate for the spring 2026 semester. The US Senate Page Program is considered one of the most selective and prestigious high school programs in the country. After submitting a very detailed application, pages must be nominated by a US senator. With the support and encouragement of her CEHS social studies teachers as well as CE Mock Trial Team coach, Elisa submitted an application last July. Her application was selected and she was nominated for the position by Senator Susan Collins.
Starting end of January until the beginning of June, Elisa will live in a residence hall on Capitol Hill with the other pages from across the country. Pages work full time as employees of the US Senate Sergeant at Arms and perform a variety of tasks to support the daily operations of the senate, such as delivering legislative material within the Capitol, preparing the Chamber for Senate sessions, providing assistance during roll call votes, supporting senators and staff during debates, and carrying bills and amendments to the desk. In addition, pages wake up at 5 am to attend school every weekday before working on the senate floor, and are expected to maintain a rigorous schedule including early morning and late nights.
Throughout the semester, senate pages also participate in educational field trips throughout Washington DC and the surrounding area. Just a few examples of planned field trips include touring the Supreme Court, visiting the National Archives, volunteering at the Congressional Cemetery, and traveling the Harriet Tubman underground railroad byway.