WELLS — Earlier this spring, Wells High School senior Seamus McDonough was designated a semifinalist in the 2016 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. He was one of 689 semifinalists chosen by a panel of educators from over 4,700 candidates nationwide.

According to a press release, the “U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964 by executive order of the president to recognize some of the nation’s most distinguished graduating seniors for their accomplishments in many areas: academic success, leadership, and service to school and community.”

In May, semifinalists were narrowed down to 161 Presidential Scholars. Two students from Maine (one from Bangor High School and one from Greely High School) were selected to be Presidential Scholars.

In high school, Seamus McDonough developed a strong interest in government and politics. To explore that interest further, he applied for and was selected by U.S. Sen. Collins to participate in the United States Senate Page Program in Washington, D.C. from January to June of 2015.

In the program he attended U.S. Senate Page School, taking high school courses in the early morning hours and working a longer time, sometimes into the evening, with other pages on the floor of the Senate for Republican senators.

McDonough best summed up his experiences in Washington as “… the experience that kind of matured me. The Page Program really opened my eyes to the working world, the adult world … like going from a child to an adult,” he added.

In July of 2015, McDonough attended Dirigo Boys State at Thomas College and was elected governor of Dirigo Boys State. Later that summer, he represented Maine as a senator at Boys Nation at Marymount University in Virginia.

In the fall of 2016 McDonough will be attending Princeton University to study economics. Seamus McDonough is the son of Eduard and Pamela McDonough of Wells.