WASHINGTON – For her 18th birthday, Colleen Pajak received a present few people will get in a lifetime – a compliment from President George W. Bush.

In between dancing to such songs as Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl” and Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” [all sung with a Southern twang], a rosy-cheeked Pajak glided off the dance floor of the Hilton Washington on Thursday night and excitedly described the conversation she’d had about an hour before, when she was one of six people who greeted the Bushes backstage at the Constitution Ball.

“The president and first lady stopped and talked to every one of us for about a minute, and it was really awesome,” said the senior from Catherine McAuley High School in Portland.

Pajak said the president noted that they were wearing matching American flag pins but said that Pajak’s, which sparkled in the light, was “fancier.”

Pajak, who said she idolizes Laura Bush, said she then told Mrs. Bush she looked “beautiful,” before getting her picture taken with the Bushes.

Pajak’s father, Michael, 44, who lives in Portland, said he took time off from his job as a self-employed executive recruiter and has been in Washington for two months, setting up telephones and computers, distributing tickets and doing other administrative work for the inaugural events. When a co-worker suggested he take Colleen to the ball, which took place three days before her birthday, he knew it would be the perfect present, especially because Colleen helped recruit voters for Bush. As an added bonus, Pajak also was able to arrange for his daughter to be one of the six greeters.

Pajak also arranged for his daughter’s boyfriend and two of her friends to get tickets to the $150 event, which included a small buffet dinner of salad, beef and pasta.

“It’s the best present I’ve ever received,” Colleen said. “I know there was so much work behind it, and it really means a lot to me.”

After meeting the greeters briefly, the Bushes spent about six minutes in all on stage. The first couple was met with rowdy applause and chants of “four more years.” The president gave a quick speech and the couple danced for a moment as their daughters, Barbara and Jenna, looked on before the family headed off to another ball.

Nine official inaugural balls were held Thursday night. Maine joined 17 other states and territories represented at the Constitution Ball at the Hilton Washington. Hundreds were in attendance at the Hilton, but no exact count was available.

When the Bush family appeared on stage at the Constitution Ball, Jean Carrier, 33, of Jackman, was standing about 20 feet away, he said in an interview Friday morning.

After the Bushes left the ball, Carrier said, he met people from all over the country and was especially impressed by the number of young people in attendance.

“I thought the youth was getting out of politics, but it’s good to see them stepping up to the plate,” he said, adding that democracy will continue for generations to come.

Carrier said he was honored “to witness democracy in action” at the ball.