A group of students from ABC-Stewart Montessori School in Columbus who served as pages together in the Indiana House pose for a photo with Rep. Ryan Lauer, R-Columbus. From left are Jericho Kelp of Columbus, Carter Burton of Edinburgh, Jackson Stafford of Nashville, Hitarth Taxak of Columbus, Ritsuki Singh of Columbus, Emma Frisbie of Columbus and Berkley King of Columbus.
State Reps. Ryan Lauer (R-Columbus) and Jennifer Meltzer (R-Shelbyville) recently welcomed local students to the Statehouse where they participated in the Indiana House page program during the recently adjourned 2024 legislative session.
“While our students learn about our state government and history in school, there is nothing quite like being at the Statehouse and seeing the legislative session in full swing,” Lauer said. “This is a unique learning experience for young Hoosiers to interact with legislators and staff, and participate in the process.”
As pages, the students assisted lawmakers and staff with daily duties, toured offices of all branches of government in the Statehouse, and joined lawmakers on the House floor to witness and learn about the legislative process.
“It is always a pleasure getting to meet students from our communities and share a little bit of the Statehouse with them,” Meltzer said. “I hope to see more students from our community next year during the longer session.”
These Columbus students served as House pages for during the 2024 legislative session:
Benyounes
Ava Gausmann
Mitch Gausmann
Ivanenko
Will Gausmann
Von Zeppelin
Simmons
Wajd Benyounes, Columbus East High School; Columbus siblings Mitch Gausmann and Will Gausmann, Trinity Lutheran High School, and Ava Gausmann, Columbus Christian School; Yehor Ivanenko, Columbus East High School; Aaron Simmons, Indiana Connections Academy; and Jakob Von Zeppelin, Columbus North High School.
Additionally, the group of students from ABC-Stewart Montessori School in Columbus pictured above also paged together during the session.
Meltzer said students ages 13 to 18 should consider participating during the 2025 legislative session.
Contact Lauer at [email protected] or Meltzer at [email protected] for more information on the Indiana House Page Program.
