Natalie Trimble, a student at Lt. Gen. William H. Harrison Preparatory School, recently served as a page in the state House of Representatives during the 2017 legislative session. Rep. Dick Muri, R-Steilacoom, sponsored her for the Washington State House of Representatives Page Program. She is the daughter of Lt. Col. Joshua and Amy Trimble and resides at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM).
The page program began in 1891 and selection as a page is a great honor. Trimble spent a week in Olympia. "I wanted to apply for the program because I heard a lot of good things about it. It sounded really cool to have a behind-the-scenes experience. I had a broad idea of how the legislature worked but this program gives you the finer details of how it runs," said Trimble.
A page's day begins at 7:45 a.m. and ends around 5 p.m. It is packed with activities. "Each day we go to school for two hours and learn about the Legislature, how a bill becomes law and what makes a good bill. We then work either the morning or afternoon session in the House. The rest of the day depends on your assignment; you could present the flags, work in the members' cafeteria or the mailroom," she said. "I was surprised how many people wanted to talk to me when they found out I was from JBLM," she added.
Rep. Muri makes the time to mentor the students he sponsors for the program. "As a retired military veteran, I especially enjoy having the sons and daughters of our active-duty military while they legislative page for a week down here in Olympia. Natalie has seen a lot of legislative action on the House of Representatives floor this week as we decide on which bills to send to the Senate for possible action. I had lunch with Natalie and we discussed her future. It looks like she might attend four different high schools while her father is expecting many different assignments. This will be both a challenge and an opportunity as she becomes well versed in the many different aspects of American culture," said Muri.
Trimble participates in swimming, Key Club, and National Junior Honor Society all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. "Natalie came to me one day during lunch and asked if I would endorse her application for the Washington State Legislative Page Program," said Kevin Rupprecht, principal, Harrison Prep. "I gave her an ecstatic, ‘Yes!' and accompanied high five in the lunch room. It was an easy yes since she is a superb student with an accomplished cumulative GPA. This military dependent student of mine, demonstrating to her principal, her interest in public service, provoked a conversation regarding her interest in political science, where I was able to share with her my experience as a Senate intern while I was in college. I am well pleased with my student and I know she will grow from this experience."
"I never considered being part of politics but now that I've seen how it works I would consider a future in the field. There are so many jobs," Trimble said. The week over she returns to school after a broadening experience she will never forget.