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Wilkes resident graduates from final class before 200-year-old program shuts down

A North Wilkesboro high school student sponsored by Congresswoman Virginia Foxx has completed the summer 2011 semester as a Congressional Page in Washington, D.C.  Sarai Whittington, who is a senior at Millers Creek Christian School, completed the program in August.

“Sarai’s hard work and scholarship should make her family and community proud,” Foxx said. “She has proven to be a committed student of congressional procedure and her success in the page program is a testament to her passion for learning and public service.”

In addition to receiving instruction and training about government and the operations of Congress, House pages worked in the Capitol each day carrying out a variety of duties.  These duties included delivering correspondence within the congressional complex, answering phones in the House Cloakrooms, and preparing the House Floor for legislative sessions. 

“It was an honor to experience our government from the inside during one of the most important debates in our countries history involving the debt ceiling,” Whittington said.  “Hearing our country's leaders discussing this very important issue was thrilling.  By being a Congressional Page, my eyes were truly opened up to how our government operates.”

Whittington participated in what ended up being the last class of House pages ever, as House Speaker Boehner and Minority Leader Pelosi announced that the page program would be shut down after operating for more than 200 years.  When she graduates from high school Whittington plans to attend college to study to be a physical therapist.  She has been accepted to Lenior-Rhyne University and is in the midst of the application process at other colleges.