South Dakota’s 100th legislative session began on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, marking a historic milestone for the state’s government. Among those participating were two local students who served as Legislative pages during the second session: Melanie Roemen, a junior at Tea Area High School, and Charlee Jorgensen, a senior at Lennox High School.
Charlee Jorgensen, sponsored by Representative Amber Arlint, valued her time at the Capitol.
“I loved learning about our government in a hands-on way. It was eye-opening to see how hard the legislators work and how passionate they are to serve our state. I was there at a historic time as the new Governor and Lt. Governor were sworn in,” she said.
This year marked her second term as a page, and she plans to apply for an internship next year. A senior at Lennox High School, Charlee will attend South Dakota State University (SDSU) in the fall. She is the daughter of Casey and Quinn Jorgensen.
Melanie Roemen also valued her time. Melanie’s Legislative sponsor was originally Representative Herman Otten. After his resignation, Representative Aaron Aylward took over as her sponsor. Public service runs in Melanie’s family—her step-grandfather, Tim Goodwin, currently serves in the House for District 30.
Melanie found her time as a Legislative page both rewarding and educational.
“I had never really paid close attention to the local government, at least not like this. It was an amazing experience to witness and learn from,” she shared.
She hopes to return and serve again next year if accepted. Melanie is the daughter of Dan and Clarissa Roemen.
Both Melanie and Charlee served during the legislative session’s second term and were present to witness the swearing-in ceremony of South Dakota’s new Governor, Larry Rhoden, and Lt. Governor, Tony Venhuizen.
Their participation not only provided a unique educational opportunity but also gave them a front-row seat to history as they observed the inner workings of state government during a momentous time for South Dakota.