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The Honolulu Advertiser

Updated at 7:17 a.m., Thursday, October 11, 2007

Abercrombie seeks Hawaii juniors for Page Program

Advertiser Staff

Congressman Neil Abercrombie is seeking applicants, currently high school juniors living in Hawai'i's First Congressional District, to enroll in one of the nation's most prestigious work-study programs: the U.S. House of Representatives Page Program in Washington, D.C.

"This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience for any qualified student," Abercrombie said in a released statement. "The Page Program offers selected students the opportunity to live in the House Page Residence Hall on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., go to school at the Library of Congress and work full time as support staff in the U.S. House of Representatives.

"Selected House members — on a rotating basis — are given the opportunity to fill 72 page positions for a semester or summer session. My office is seeking applicants for the 2008 spring semester, from late January to the first week in June, and to select one name that will be forwarded to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for final approval. It's an extremely challenging experience, and certainly an invaluable one."

Abercrombie serves as chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces.

Students applying for Abercrombie's sponsorship for the 2008 spring program, which runs from Jan. 27, 2008, through June 6, 2008, should meet the following requirements:

  • 3.0 GPA based on major courses, no electives

  • High school junior

  • Reside in the First Congressional District (Honolulu, 'Aiea, Pearl City, Mililani, 'Ewa Beach and most of Waipahu)

  • 16 years old by the beginning of the Page term (January 2008).

    Applicants will be asked to provide to Abercrombie's office by 4:30 p.m., Nov. 2:

  • A completed Congressional Page Application

  • Social Security Number

  • Parental consent form

  • Official transcript of high school grades

  • Written essay (150-200 word autobiography)

  • Resume of extracurricular activities

    Three letters of recommendation.

    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.

    Interested students may obtain the Congressional Page Application and more information by contacting Gail Onuma of Abercrombie's Honolulu office at 808-541-2570 or gail.onuma@mail.house.gov. The application will also be available soon on Abercrombie's Web site at www.house.gov/abercrombie. More information about the program is at http://pageprogram.house.gov.