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RALEIGH — Even at the General Assembly, a body that knows a thing or two about adherence to tradition and ceremony, the cadets from Oak Ridge Military Academy stand out.

Wearing the 158-year-old academy’s uniform and moving smartly from one station to the next, about two dozen cadets have been taking their turn this week helping the legislature and maybe learning a thing or two themselves.

“A lot,” junior Steven Dace said when asked how much he had learned working as a page. He and his classmates who worked for the Senate have watched debate on bills such as a smoking ban and a new law requiring bicyclists riding at night to use lights.

Along with classmates Ethan Culberson, a sophomore from Belews Creek, and Ryan Greaney, a sophomore from Jacksonville, Dace spoke just before the Senate started a busy afternoon session Wednesday.

All three said they were surprised by how much went into crafting the state’s laws.

“It takes a lot of work,” Culberson said.

“And time,” Dace added.

The cadets are on duty during crossover week, the days in advance of a key legislative deadline when the House and Senate work at a frenzied pace. Each chamber was expected to vote on more than 100 bills Wednesday.

Pages hand out copies of bills, deliver notes and run other errands during legislative sessions and committee hearings.

In return, they get a firsthand lesson in how the laws of the state are made.

Typically, the high school students who serve as pages come from schools across the state. This week, the bulk of the pages are from the academy.

“They look like good kids: disciplined and motivated,” said Rep. John Blust, a Greensboro Republican who represents the Oak Ridge area. Blust said the cadets compared favorably to other groups.

“They’re doing something right out there.”

Lobbyist Zeb Alley graduated from the academy in 1947 and went to the UNC-Chapel Hill before joining the Army.

He noted that the General Assembly was recognizing the service of veterans Wednesday.

“That’s one reason I thought it would be a good week for them to come up,” Alley said, adding he had encouraged the school to send students.

Do Dace or his colleagues want to be senators themselves?

Greaney said he wasn’t up for so much sitting.

“It would be kind of cool,” Dace said.

“Hey,” Culberson exclaimed. “Senator Steven! Sounds good.”

Contact Mark Binker at (919) 832-5549 or mark.binker@news-record.com