LA PLATA, Md. – Four Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) seniors are representing the school system this year in the Maryland General Assembly’s Student Page Program. Students in the program, including the alternate, participate in the Maryland General Assembly’s legislative session.
The following students were selected to participate in this year’s program.
- Gesselle Treminio Reyes, senior, Westlake High School.
- Emonee Rhynes, senior, Maurice J. McDonough High School.
- Ava Rowledge, senior, Maurice J. McDonough.
- Leila Harrison, senior, North Point High School, alternate.
Selected pages serve two nonconsecutive weeks during the 13 weeks of the legislative session. The session runs from the second week in January to early April, each page serves one week during the first seven weeks and returns for a second week of service during the last six.
More than 100 Maryland high school students participate in the program annually, each serving as a representative of their respective school system. Three representatives are chosen from each school system with a fourth student serving as an alternate. Students can apply during their senior year and the selection process is competitive. Applicants must demonstrate an interest in the program and interview before a panel of judges.
Students will be assigned to work with either the Maryland Senate or the House of Delegates during the session. The program allows students to participate in daily legislative sessions, follow-up discussions about law-making processes, presentations by, and discussions with, legislators and legislative staff, and to attend various committee hearings and proceedings.
If she’s not reading books on philosophy or helping the Westlake theater program run smoothly, Treminino Reyes is acting as a defense lawyer on the school’s mock trial team or volunteering at the Charles County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO). She is a senior who has her eyes set on her future goals. After high school she wants to attend the University of Maryland, College Park, to major in criminal justice and criminology with hopes to work for CCSO after graduation. She currently volunteers with the office as a safety cadet helping with traffic control at local events.
She applied for the student page program to help those who are not knowledgeable about the criminal justice system. She hopes to gain insight in the field through the program to eventually find what aspect of law she wants to practice in the future. Treminino Reyes was backstage during theater practice when her history teacher told her to check her mail at home. “I was hoping that what I sent them was strong enough,” she said. “When I saw the mail and [acceptance] card addressed to me I started jumping.”
Rhynes is a jack of all trades as a member of McDonough’s jazz band, varsity captain of the school’s basketball and volleyball team, involved in Key Club, student council and mock trial. “I have always been interested in legislation and civic engagement and have a passion to volunteer in the community and get involved in politics,” she said. “I heard that there was an opportunity to get involved in the deeper workings of legislation.” After high school Rhynes wants to go to a four-year university and major in political science, go to law school and become a family attorney in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.
When she is not on the court or in the courtroom, Rhynes volunteers with local organizations. “My life has been changed ever since I started volunteering,” she said. After school she spends her time volunteering where she can. “I want to make an impact on youth in specific communities and uncover things that will put kids first,” Rhynes said.
You may have seen Rowledge in Unified Bocce, tennis or track, as president of McDonough’s student government association (SGA) or leading the Class of 2025 as president. Rowledge is an involved student at the school and strives to make a global impact one day. From her passion for government and history coupled with hearing good things about the program, she began to take interest in applying for the program. “Seeing this opportunity as a learning experience, getting to meet new people all around Maryland, talking about shared interests, learning about government and potentially working in government in the future were all motivating factors to apply for the program,” Rowledge said. After high school graduation, she hopes to double major in international relations and political science and minor in business administration. She then wants to obtain her Juris Doctor (JD) and master’s in business administration to then become an international policy holder.
When Rowledge isn’t leading the school’s National Honors Society (NHS) as vice president, she is crocheting blankets and donating them to project Linus, an organization that donates blankets locally and distributed to to children ages 0-18 in “hospitals, shelters, social service agencies, or anywhere that a child might be in need of a big hug,” according to https://www.projectlinus.org/. “My grandma is the one who told me about them,” Rowledge said. “She is into knitting and my mom likes to sew.” She often finds ways to get involved and help others in the process.
From working at a restaurant to an internship at a dealership and being an executive officer in North Point’s ROTC program, Harrison did not miss an opportunity to apply for the student page program. If she is not on the softball field, in a wrestling match or cheering on the North Point eagles then she is in either math, science or Kitty Hawk (Air Force Academy) honors societies. She was interested in the student page program because of her interest in the field and wanting to make a difference in her community. After high school she wants to enlist in the Air Force and after retirement from the military she strives to become a politician. Outside of her extracurricular activities she enjoys reading and painting.
To read more about the student page program visit https://www.ccboe.com/students/student-page-program.
About CCPS
Charles County Public Schools provides 28,162 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 38 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.
The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Dr. Mike Blanchard, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.
CCPS provides nondiscriminatory equal access to school facilities in accordance with its Use of Facilities rules to designated youth groups (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts).