RISCO TEEN-AGER SPENDS BUSY MONTH AS PAGE IN WASHINGTON

RISCO -- Sarah Crouthers spent a large part of her summer sitting on steps, filling glasses of water and giving out telephone messages.

She wasn't a waitress or a secretary; she was a page for U.S. Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond, R-Mo., in Washington from June 15 to July 10.

Her days were filled with running up and down the Senate floor, straightening podiums and desks and taking senators water when they needed it.

"By the end of the month, I knew which senator liked ice with their water and who didn't," she said.

Crouthers says it was a great opportunity and something few people get to do. "It was such an advantage. It was awesome to be in the Senate chambers. Not many people can say they have done that."

Crouthers said all of the senators were nice, but Sens. Strom Thurman and Bill Frist left a lasting impression on her. Both hosted parties for all of the pages.

"If a senator could tell we were tired, they would walk up and give us gum or bring us Cokes. They were pretty friendly," Crouthers said.

The 17-year-old Risco High School senior was one of 27 high school students and the only student from Missouri to be selected to serve as a page at the nation's Capitol. Other pages were from as far away as Alaska and as close to Washington, D.C., and Rhode Island.

She said she developed lots of friendships and had a blast. "It was exciting. I got to meet a lot people and made friends that I still keep in contact with."

Among the celebrities Crouthers was introduced to, besides daily interaction with senators, were actor Anthony Edwards, singer Travis Tritt and former presidential candidate Bob Dole.

Her supervisors, which were the secretary of arms and his staff, gave the pages a lot of freedom but "were very concerned about our safety," she said. The pages were required to attend self-defense and sexual harassment classes.

Although she worked 40 hours a week, Crouthers was able to see the city and do as she pleased at night. She was required to tell her supervisors where she was going and obey her 10 p.m. curfew by returning to the dorm room in Webster Hall.

Crouthers, who will be a senior this year, is active in her school's Beta Club and is editor of the yearbook staff. She also plays volleyball and basketball.

Although she is unsure if a career in politics is in her future, Crouthers is certain her job will involve something in government.