Wells High School student receives MPA Principal’s Award

Post date: Mar 08, 2016 1:42:42 PM

Seamus McDonough, a senior at Wells High School, has been selected to receive the 2016 Maine Principal’s Award, Principal Eileen Sheehy has announced. The award, sponsored by the Maine Principals Association (MPA), is given in recognition of a high school senior’s academic achievement and citizenship. Each year one senior from each Maine high school in the MPA is selected by their school for this recognition.

“Seamus is a strong student academically who has availed himself of every opportunity to learn...in summer enrichment programs, through college-level coursework as well as through numerous immersion programs,” said Principal Sheehy.

According to Sheehy, McDonough has maintained High Honor Roll status throughout high school, distinguished himself as a member of the National Honor Society, and was named as a National Merit Commended Scholar as well as an AP Scholar with Distinction. During his junior year, McDonough served as a Senate Page in the 114th Congress in Washington, DC. Over the summer of 2015 Seamus participated in Boys State, where he was elected Governor. From that post, he served as one of two Maine delegates at “Boys Nation” in Washington, DC.

In addition to being Class Treasurer, McDonough is a member of the WHS Math Team and co-founder of the school’s Political Affairs Club. Likewise, he has committed many hours to community service in events such as the Patrick Faolan McDonough Golf Tournament, the local Relay for Life and Boston’s Jimmy Fund Walk. Each of these events has raised substantial money for important causes, such as $750,000 raised in the McDonough Golf Tournament (held in memory of Seamus’ brother, Patrick), which goes to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

“Seamus sets high goals for himself and works hard to achieve them,” added Principal Sheehy. “He is a conscientious, kind, unpretentious student and a tremendous leader in our school community. Seamus is most deserving of this recognition that honors achievement and citizenship.”

“It feels awesome,” responded McDonough when asked for a comment. “I have always known that I’ve been a leader in the classroom but I didn’t really understand how above and beyond I truly went until I got an award like this.”

The son of Edward and Pamela McDonough of Wells, Seamus McDonough is invited to attend the MPA’s Honors Luncheon on Saturday, April 2nd in Bangor where he will be further recognized by the Maine Principals Association.

From left to right are WHS Principal Eileen Sheehy, Seamus McDonough, WHS Assistant Principal Josh Gould.