When asked who has inspired her most during her time at Boothbay Region High School, Alexis Welch said, “My dad.” BRHS Principal (and Maine Principal Association 2017 Principal of the Year) Dan Welch’s office has been right down the hall during her high school career.

She'll miss having him to talk to on a daily basis. She's inspired by his accomplishments. “He earned his master's degree at the University of Maine and he loved it there. He also got his Certificate of Advanced Studies. It would be nice to follow in his footsteps.”

She is following in his footsteps when she attends the University of Maine in Orono in the fall. Welch will major in biology and has been accepted into UMO’s honors program. The discussion-based classes are small, between nine and 15 students. “You have one honors class that you take each semester,” she said. These classes will replace 18 general education requirements. During her senior year, she will focus on her Capstone, an immersive research project.

Welch wants to be a doctor, hopefully a pediatrician. To this end, she's been doing a work-study with Lincoln Health Medical Partners pediatrician, Dr. Steven Feder three times a week. UMO doesn't have a formal pre-med program, but does have a pre-med concentration. Alexis will work with advisers who will make sure she meets the requirements she'll need to enter a medical program after she graduates.

She's pushed herself throughout high school, playing three varsity sports per year and taking advanced placement (AP) classes. At one point, she wanted to quit the classes, but her parents encouraged her to stick with it. She did and that, she said, was her proudest accomplishment during her time at BRHS.

She's glad to be moving on, but she'll miss her friends. “My friend Kate (Friant) is going to California (University of Southern California), and Nicole (Clarke) is going to the University of Vermont.” Welch said she’s more of a homebody. One of the reasons she chose UMO is because she has relatives in Bangor she'll be able to visit from time to time.

She'll graduate June 9, but she’s not going to rest on her laurels. She'll be working at Wannawaf in Boothbay Harbor for the fourth year in a row, serving ice cream waffle creations. She's also working at the Thistle Inn and will be a nanny between those two jobs.

When asked about her advice to underclassmen, she said, “Don't get caught up in the drama. Challenge yourself to explore what you'd like to do in the future.”

Her favorite place in Boothbay Harbor is Ocean Point. “Especially if I have a bad day. I'll go watch the sunset and it clears my mind. I'll be back next summer, but I'll miss the ocean.”