The School Buzz: Atlas High School junior gets an opportunity to work at our nation’s capital

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO)-- In our School Buzz story of the day, we're featuring a local high school student already getting hands-on experience in the workforce.

It was an opportunity for students to get outside the classroom in Colorado Springs, to learn alongside our country's Senators. 

Alan Ventura Duran is a Junior at Atlas High School.

He's just returned from Washington D.C., where he spent time working as a Senate Page. 

The position was offered by Senator Michael Bennet's office and Duran is the second student to come from Atlas. 

The program lasts 5 months with a schedule, unlike your typical course load. 

Each day starts at 5 a.m. sharp with roughly 2 hours of class time, before a session with the program's teachers and then work at the Capitol. 

Those tasks include: Setting up the Senate Chamber, bringing the Senator's water, and tending to the presiding officer's desk. 

Each shift would vary from mornings to evenings, based on what the Senate adjourned for the day. 

Duran says the latest he stayed was 4 in the morning. 

When asked about his experience working in the Capitol Duran said, "While I'm still set on becoming an engineer... It helped me see politics from a larger perspective... I understand, now, how the government works."

Do you know something or someone remarkable at your school? Email us at Schoolbuzz@krdo.com.