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March 14, 2003/Adar2 10 5763, Vol. 55, No. 29
North High School student named congressional page
JESSICA BARBER
Staff Writer
Samuel Burke of Phoenix attends high school two to four hours a day - and spends the rest of his time in Congress.
Burke, a 17-year-old junior at North High School in Phoenix, was recently accepted into the United States House of Representatives Page Program and is spending a semester in Washington, D.C. He has been working toward the program since his freshman year in high school through political volunteerism with the local Democratic Party.
He participated in neighborhood walks for local Democratic candidates, including former Attorney General Janet Napolitano, and in several party fund-raisers, meeting key leaders along the way.
"People introduced me to Congressman (Ed) Pastor, who was the only Democrat congressman (in Arizona) until the recent election," says Burke. "I asked him if he would submit my name as his nomination (for the page program) and he did."
Even with his name submitted to the program, Burke still had hurdles to clear.
"I had to fill out a lot of applications and get recommendation letters," says Burke. "You have to have at least a 3.0 GPA, be 16 or 17 years old and be a junior in high school. I would say the program is very, very competitive."
With his paperwork requirements met, Burke was referred to a three-member panel that chooses 72 House of Representatives pages out of more than 400 nominees.
"It helps (in the consideration process) to be active politically and join clubs," says Burke. "I think they look for kids like that."
After his acceptance to the program, Burke arrived at a "top of the line" page dormitory near the Capitol building in late January.
"We get up at 5 a.m., go to breakfast in the dorm and then go to school," explains Burke. "We go to school in the Library of Congress and I have to pinch myself every time I walk in. It's just such an incredible building."
All 72 pages attend school in the Library of Congress from 7-9 a.m. or 7-11 a.m., depending on congressional sessions, he explains.
"It's a full-service high school," says Burke. "It's very quick though. It has all the classes you could ask for - but you do five classes in two or three hours."
After school, the students walk to the Capitol to work as congressional pages.
"Basically our job is running messages between the congressmen on the floor or between their offices," says Burke. "It's like a whole network of tunnels and we're constantly running in and out of them."
One of his most notable shifts, recalls Burke, came on his second day on the job.
"I was able to attend the State of the Union given by President Bush," he says. "Before the speech began I was able to meet all 100 senators, Colin Powell, Donald Rumsfeld and the president."
Burke's days usually end at 4:30 p.m., however all pages work one night shift a week.
"We have to stay as long as congressmen are working," says Burke. He has previously worked a 24-hour shift although "that doesn't happen very often."
In his free time, Burke tours landmarks in the nation's capitol under the direction of the program.
Burke will return to the Valley in June and will finish his senior year at North High School next year. He plans to attend college on the East Coast and study broadcast journalism with an emphasis in politics.
In addition to his interest in politics, Burke feels it is his responsibility as an American Jew to be involved in public affairs.
"I believe that it is vital for Jews to play a role in our government," he says. "We are a small minority that has faced hardship and even in America, we must be proactive and keep a firm grasp on the rights provided to us by democracy."
Burke is the son of Loren and Marc Burke of Phoenix and has a younger brother, Jacob. The family belongs to Temple Beth Israel.
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