WHEREAS, British Columbia and Washington State share a border, many natural resources, and geological and geographic similarities; and
     WHEREAS, British Columbia and Washington State often work together to achieve mutual goals, including British Columbia working together with Whatcom, Okanogan, Ferry, Stevens, and Pend Oreille counties to secure and streamline border crossings, facilitating transportation of goods and travelers throughout the region; and
     WHEREAS, The paramount duty of Washington State is the education of our youth in order to prepare them to be our leaders in the future; and
     WHEREAS, British Columbia recognizes the importance and value of quality civic education; and
     WHEREAS, The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia and Washington State Legislature sponsor nationally renowned internship programs meant to educate interns and promote political awareness; and
     WHEREAS, Washington State undergraduate interns spend their winter quarter or spring semester working in Olympia with staff and members of the Washington State Senate or House of Representatives; and
     WHEREAS, In addition to their office work, interns participate in weekly academic seminars and workshops, learning about the process of a representative democracy with a bicameral legislature; and
     WHEREAS, The British Columbia Legislative Internship Program offers an opportunity to university graduates to supplement their academic training by observing the daily workings of the Legislative Assembly firsthand; and
     WHEREAS, Interns acquire skills and knowledge that they can apply to chosen careers and future life experiences, which further contributes to a greater public understanding and appreciation of parliamentary government; and
     WHEREAS, Part of the internship experience for both programs includes participating in a shadowing exercise where the intern observes a particular organization, office, or aspect of government the intern is interested in learning more about; and
     WHEREAS, The exchange program represents a shadowing opportunity by which British Columbia interns can visit the state capitol in Olympia and Washington State interns can visit the provincial capitol in Victoria; and
     WHEREAS, For the tenth year, British Columbia and Washington State legislative interns have participated in this exchange program to explore and learn about the history and government processes of a different legislative body; and
     WHEREAS, We welcome the British Columbia legislative interns to the Washington State legislature and commend their numerous academic achievements and passion for government;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate honor the hardworking and dedicated British Columbia Legislative Internship Program facilitators: Karen Aitken and Jennifer Ives, as well as the British Columbia legislative interns: Katie Dittrich, Maya Fernandez, Emma Fraser, Thomas Lattimer, Jared Marley, Kate Russell, Stephen Satterfield, Ella Vanesa Tomasino Rodriguez, Rebecca Whitmore, and Braeden Wiens, and extend our deepest gratitude to our own legislative intern coordinators: Judi Best and Paula Rehwaldt for bringing together such an excellent program; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate hereby honor, thank, and celebrate the British Columbia legislative interns here today.