While most high school seniors are solving calculus problems or writing essays on American history, a lucky few get to spend two weeks at the State House in Annapolis as student pages.

"This has been the best experience for me, going in and doing this, actually seeing it is great," said Kirsten Tainter, a senior at Dulaney High School.

During General Assembly sessions, pages run errands for the legislators, photocopy bills, deliver messages and even bring coffee or lunch for the senators and delegates.

"We're responsible for making sure the delegates have their required materials," said James Motsay, a senior at Calvert Hall College High School.

When the legislature is not in session, students often attend committee sessions that interest them.

During his time as a page, Motsay saw a judicial committee hearing on assault weapons, and also sat in on committee hearings on bills related to cell phone use while driving, and on the issue of minors driving minors.

"While all the other high school students were sitting in chemistry class or something, I was able to listen to bills, hear bills that affect me," the Cockeysville resident said.

"It was neat to see the arguments for and against bills," said Motsay, who was assigned to the House of Delegates.

In January, when the General Assembly opened its 90-day session, most sessoins ran only a half hour or so, Motsay said. But with the session drawing to a close in mid-April, time on the House or Senate floor can run up to three hours a day, and occasionally longer.

But the pages are still left with plenty of free time. When not in session, the pages explore Annapolis, check out the Naval Academy or visit shops and a local ice skating rink.

Many of the pages stay with a host family for their two weeks in Annapolis, including Motsay.

He particularly liked interacting with the delegates, including his own, Dels. Rick Impallaria, J.B. Jennings and Pat McDonogh.

"Maybe one day, we'll be in their position. Maybe one day I'll be on the floor," said Motsay, who plans to attend the Virginia Military Institute and major in economics and business.

Tainter, who was assigned to work in the Senate, said she's also enjoyed good conversations with the senators. "They want you to come to them and ask questions. It's great knowing that (the senators) like me," she said. "This is my niche. I love politics, love listening to it."

Tainter hopes to attend either Georgetown University or the University of Virginia.

"I've always been interested in government," said Tainter. "The law is really intriguing."

Tainter feels being a page in Annapolis is an experience students should definitely consider. "It's one they shouldn't miss. Go for it!"

Motsay agrees that students should apply. "Even if they're not interested in state government, it's still two weeks off during the second semester of your senior year," he said, laughing.

Other local pages during the 2004 General Assembly session include: Lauren Blair, Baltimore Lutheran; Christopher Chaulk, Loyola Blakefield; Shawn Patrick Flaterty, Towosn High; Laura Rothlisberger, Carver Center for the Arts and Technology; and Theresa White, Loch Raven High.

>The following Dumbarton Middle School students will have their work displayed at the Rodgers Forge branch of the Bank of America: Thillman Benham, Audrey Burke, Alicia Carcerano, Merrit Cooke, Sarah Cofflin, Sophie Esman, Ross Herman, Anna Johnston, Julia Mainolfi, Molly McCambridge, Tim McDade, Emma Popp, Aleece Roehl, David Ruby and Allison Short.

>Dulaney High School PTSA selected the following students to receive Awards of Excellence for their interpretation of this year's 2004 PTA Reflections Program theme,"I Am Really Happy When...": Bethany Henneman, Paige Cantlin, Elizabeth Awalt and Rebecca Golden, literature; Alyse Gettings, photography; and Megann Daw and Rachel Stuart, visual arts.

Awalt, Gettings and Daw won the Baltimore County PTA Reflections Awards of Excellence. The award reception will be held Thursday, April 29, 7:30-9:30 p.m. at Cockeysville Middle School.

>Lauren Minogue of Dulaney High School has been selected as a semi-finalist in the WJZ-TV Black History Oratory Contest. She presented her essay Feb. 29 at Coppin State College.

>The following Loch Raven High School students participated in the 10th year of the Elementary Spanish Program at Carroll Manor Elementary School: Sarah Hahn, Shilpa Kadoo, Ashley Pham, Jenny Bragg Anne LeBrun, Esther Kim, Alex Radomsky, Jordan Berg and Kristen Janssen.

>The following Warren Elementary School students showed the value of kindness during February: Gordon Buschman, Rebecca Cobb, Emily Cool, Meredith Gouger, Alex Mackie, Abdul Osman, Heather Portillo, Jackie Sanders, Tayvon Small, Alexandra Vlk and Allison Wengler.

>Stefanie Vlk will be honored April 21 at the 1000-Hour Volunteer Ceremony at Cockeysville Middle School. Over the last five years, Vlk has put in more than 1,000 hours of volunteering at Warren Elementary School.

>The following students were named to the 37th edition of "Who's Who Among American High School Students, 2002-2003."

Cockeysville residents include: Fallon Bakalich, Jessica Cline, Lauren Coombs, John Folbert, Michael Hsu, Courtney Hurley, J. O. James, Sarah Jenner,

Nichole Joyce, Erin Kendrick, Christiane Koffi, Kevin Leahy, Youn-Chung Lee, Daniel Lucas, Patrick Lucas, Bryan Mathew, Mark McKenna, Amy McMahon, Angela Miceli, David Ortenzio, Elizabeth Paal, Jason Park, Alex Paulson, Andrew Peri, Asmara Qamar, Joseph Rallo, Lauren Risby, Lisa Ru, Megan Slosson, Jennifer Timmel, David Vatz, Emily Vitrano, Hank Vohrer, Scott Waldron, Lu Wang, Melissa Woods, Andy Wu and Pengfei Zhang.

Lutherville residents are: Mary Belz, Tanya Bowman, Jason Brooks, Samuel Cabrera, Patricia Carr, Eric Cecil, Michael Chen, Lauren Ciurca, William Cooper III, Alexandra Costlow, Diane Damewood, David Dao, Theresa Davis, Andrew Ensz, James Feketie, Meghan Ferguson, Cassandra Fields, Katharine Fox, Monica Frank, Kimberly Frankenfield, Cory Frederick, Alexis Glaeser, Akash Gupta, Melissa Higdon, Jillian Hogan, Angela Hu, Jason Huibregtse, Andy Hwang, Kaifi Jamil, Ashley Judy, Nicholas Kavoussi, April Kelly, Wana Kim, Amy Kwong, Diana Kwong, Amelia Lambert, Andrew Laughton, Mike Lawler, Sam Lee, Anne Leftwich, Brenna Lemieux, Nicholas Lombardi III, Karen Marcher, Rachael Medina, Payum Milani-Nia, Debbie Monroy, Robert Naeny III, Kae Nomura, Belinda Nwanguma, Lisa Oswald, Michelle Oswald, Judson Palardy, Erica Pang, Raymond Park, Meghan Peck, Amy Peterson, Rachel Phelan, Anna Pojunas, Christopher Popp, Melissa Raimondi, Amanda Rosenbush, Chelsea Ruch, Benjamin Salah, Megan Sandaal, Matthew Schaum, Tim Schrader, Erica Schuetz, Shannon Seipp, Aimee So, Kathleen Spadaro, Lara Streyle, Katherine Thompson, Miro Todorovm Christopher Tolmie, Laura Trueschler, Lauren Urban, Zachary Winter, Jennifer Wylie, Muzhi Xu, Emily Yoon, Petia Zamfirova and Sara Zorzi.

Towson residents include: Robert Barczak, Sarah Hemmendinger, Jonathan Howe, Claire Kozera, Matthew LaFontaine, Beverly Lee, Kimberly MacVaugh, Samantha Merrick, Ikran Mohamed, Simran Noor, Kylee Perez, Thomas Pettit and Matthew Robinson.