Amalia Sparhawk becomes first Garfield County student to participate in United States Senate Page Program

Taylor Cramer/Post Independent
Amalia Sparhawk, a junior at Roaring Fork High School, has been interested in the world of politics since she could knock on her neighbors’ doors on Halloween. Her blonde wig and child sized pantsuits illustrated her hope of following in the footsteps of former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton.
Last week, Sparhawk was one of a select few high school students chosen as a U.S. Senate Page. She will head to Washington, D.C., during the second semester of the 2024-25 school year to assist in what she calls a monumental moment in history.
Every semester, 30 juniors from across the country are selected to help serve the U.S Senate as a part of their page program. During her time in the nation’s capital, Sparhawk will take on significant responsibilities, helping keep the U.S. Senate running during historically important times.
“I feel like the historical significance was part of the appeal,” Sparhawk said. “Being so involved and getting to witness this stuff firsthand is something that I’m so excited to experience. Especially with the new administration, everything is going to be so intense and historical. The fact that I am going to get to be a part of it and see it happen so close is what really got me excited.”
Sparhawk has her mother to thank for her unwavering dedication to politics and Government. Erica Sparhawk was elected to the Carbondale Board of Trustees nearly eight years ago to the day before her daughter took residence on Capitol Hill. Her dedication to local government brought healthy political discussions to the Sparhawk dinner table, and unknowingly sparked a fiery dedication in her daughter.
“I volunteer with campaigns a lot and would frequently take my daughters door knocking with me” Erica Sparhawk said. “We talk about politics and decisions that impact our daily lives regularly. She has always been interested in going the extra mile and has always intentionally looked for more opportunities than are presented to the status quo.”
The pages are subject to an incredibly strenuous schedule, balancing school and work throughout 17-hour days. Sparhawk will travel to the nation’s capital in late January to live on Capitol Hill and assist the U.S. Senate while continuing her studies.
On a normal workday, U.S. Senate Pages are expected to wake up at 5:30 am, with classes starting at 6:15 a.m. After three hours of school, they shift focus to assist the Senate. The intense schedule is only exacerbated by the restrictions of personal electronics. Sparhawk will lose access to her phone after arriving at the Daniel Webster Senate Page Residence and won’t be able to connect to Senate Wi-Fi throughout her stay.
“I won’t have my phone at all,” Amalia Sparhawk said. “I can have my personal computer, but I can only use that in coffee shops — I’m not allowed to connect to Senate Wi-Fi. That’ll be difficult to adjust to in the first couple days, but I think it might help. I’m not going to have any distractions from my school or work, and there are going to be 30 of us struggling with the same thing which might end up bringing us closer together.”
The rigorous schedule serves as a way to identify the most dedicated applicants, and pages have meaningful roles to match their demanding hours.
“Pages play an important role in the daily operation of the Senate,” the U.S. Senate Page Program website states. “Their shared responsibilities consist primarily of delivering correspondence and legislative material within the Capitol and Senate office buildings, preparing the Chamber for Senate sessions, and working on the Senate floor where they provide assistance during roll call votes, support senators and staff during debates, and carry bills and amendments to the desk.”
The significance of the program didn’t sink in right away for Sparhawk.
“I didn’t realize how big of a deal it was at first,” she recalled. “Before my parents and I sat down and we went over the website, I was like ‘whatever it’s just another opportunity’, but after we sat down and really researched, I was blown away. As soon as I realized the importance of what we were looking at, I realized I needed to do this. I would do whatever I can.”
Out of countless applications to every senator’s desk from across the country, only 100 of the best applicants make it through the scrupulous selection process. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer oversees the task of narrowing the pool to just 30 juniors. Every page needs to be sponsored by a senator, but not every member of the senate gets to sponsor a page. Sparhawk earned an interview with both Sen. John Hickenlooper and Sen. Michael Bennet, and after impressing both offices throughout the interview process, ultimately earned sponsorship from Hickenlooper
Although she was nominated and sponsored by Sen. Hickenlooper, Sparhawk’s responsibilities won’t be working solely under the former governor. Sparhawk’s obligation is to every Democratic senator.
“Over the summer I was able to attend a town hall meeting in Gypsum where Senator Hickenlooper spoke,” Amalia Sparhawk said. “It was before he had nominated me, and it was really cool to hear him speak and how passionate he was for the work that they do.”
The U.S. Senate Page Program has silently been one of the longest running federal funded youth Government programs, with roots tracing back more than 200 years. The first page lived during one of the most historically consequential times in American history. Nine-year-old Grafton Hanson was the first official page, sponsored by the eventual Secretary of State, Daniel Webster.
Hanson got a front row seat at some of the most significant moments in U.S history. He saw the inauguration of Andrew Jackson, the seventh U.S. president, and was present on the Senate floor during debates over the Missouri Compromise. Hanson also witnessed the repercussions of Manifest Destiny, including the Trail of Tears in the 1830s.
Hanson’s role marked the beginning of a tradition that continues today.The page program serves as an opportunity for inspired and excited young adults who want to break into the world of government. Since Hanson’s time, pages have been present for some of the most significant moments in U.S. history. They helped carry the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments to the desks of lawmakers who could turn theory into reality. Pages supported senators during debates on women’s suffrage, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and now helps address how century-old policies fit into the 21st century.
Sparhawk joins a long tradition of pages who have supported the daily operations of government. But she doesn’t see it as a thankless job, instead she views it as the first stop in a long and prosperous career of helping the world become a better place.
“I want to go into political science and hopefully this background information and hands-on experience can help boost my future career,” she said.

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