Four Charles County Public Schools seniors have been chosen to represent the district in the Maryland General Assembly’s Student Page Program during the 2026 legislative session in Annapolis.
The selected students are Paola Cercos Teverino from North Point High School, Neala Rooney and Semaj Thomas from La Plata High School, and Noah Williams from North Point High School as the alternate.
The program, established in 1970 by then-House Speaker Thomas Hunter Lowe and approved by the Maryland State Board of Education, allows high school seniors to gain firsthand experience in the legislative process. More than 100 students from across Maryland participate annually, with three primary representatives and one alternate selected per school system through a competitive process overseen by county coordinators.
Pages serve two nonconsecutive weeks during the 90-day session, which convenes on January 14, 2026, and concludes on April 13, 2026. One week falls within the first seven weeks of session, and the second during the final six. Duties include assisting in the Senate or House of Delegates chambers, attending daily sessions, committee hearings, and discussions with legislators and staff.
In Charles County, applicants submit an official form and essay demonstrating interest and qualifications, followed by interviews with a panel. The process is coordinated locally, aligning with statewide guidelines that require students to be Maryland residents attending public or nonpublic schools, seniors at least 16 years old.
Paola Cercos Teverino applied at the encouragement of a teacher and due to her interest in law. She plans to pursue a four-year degree in civic engagement, government, or political science, followed by law school for a career in law or politics. “I am excited for the experience,” she said. “I am excited to be on the floor when the assembly is in session.”
At North Point, Teverino captains the flag football team, plays varsity girls basketball, serves as president of the Spanish Honors Society—which organizes ESL nights and community outreach—and as secretary of the National Honors Society. Previously in Virginia schools, she participated in peer programs for special education students and math tutoring. The selection boosted her confidence in applying to top colleges, potentially out of state or on another coast. She looks forward to meeting other pages and discussing their plans.
Noah Williams, the alternate, expressed surprise at his selection given the competition. “Only three pages [not including the alternate] get selected for the program and I knew a few people from the school and across the county were applying so I was really surprised to be selected,” he said. As alternate, he remains available if needed either week.
Williams leads on North Point’s Mock Trial team and serves as president of the African Student Association, which promotes visibility for African, African American, and Caribbean cultures. His interest in law school, possibly in medical malpractice or civil law, stemmed from a family member’s experience. “The systems that were in place at the time were not specific to their needs,” he said. He has applied to East Coast schools to major in political science or public policy.
Neala Rooney applied to expand her knowledge of politics, aligning with goals in political science and human rights law. “I was very excited because it goes along with my career goals in political science,” she said. “I want to protect communities who do not have a voice,” she said.
After high school, Rooney plans a four-year college followed by law school, with internships in politics. “I am excited to spend a week in Annapolis and learn more about how people make decisions and their response to the current condition of politics in Maryland,” she said. At La Plata, she participates in Mock Trial, Teen Court with the Charles County Sheriff’s Office, and Unified track and bocce.
Semaj Thomas, influenced by his grandfather’s government work, seeks to understand legislative impacts on people. Enrolled in the CCPS Early College Program at the College of Southern Maryland, he will earn an associate’s degree in business administration before graduating high school.
Thomas plans to attend the University of Maryland, College Park, for engineering or to build on business administration, minoring in international relations. At CSM, he is treasurer of the business and accounting club and a student government association representative; previously at North Point, he served as SGA liaison for the Class of 2026. He anticipates networking with legislators and other pages. “I want to hear their opinions on certain topics, talk to them in person and learn more about what their jobs are like and what a day in the life looks like for them,” he said.
Upon selection, Thomas was surprised by the program’s selectivity. “When I got selected, I didn’t realize how selective the program was at first and then I got a congratulations from the Board and from my school,” he said. “I looked up the program and saw where I would be staying and thought that this is going to be a really cool opportunity.”
The nonpartisan program provides practical exposure to Maryland’s lawmaking, from bill introductions to chamber proceedings, in the historic State House familiar to Southern Maryland residents via school trips or family visits to Annapolis.
