1. 'Campaign for Bates' passes $100 million
Bates has passed the $100 million mark in its fund-raising campaign, announced Vice President for College Advancement Victoria M. Devlin. The $101 million in gifts and pledges as of Jan. 31 is part of a six-year campaign to raise $120 million. "This is great news for Bates," said Devlin. "We've reached a milestone thanks to a committed and passionate group of alumni, parents and friends. They understand how important Bates is in today's world. We're very grateful." With the campaign concluding on June 30, the Board of Trustees announced the Big Bates Challenge, a program that will match new, increased or Mount David Society gifts. www.bates.edu/x112455.xml

2. Mount David Summit slated for March 24
The Mount David Summit is the annual campus-wide celebration of student academic achievement, highlighting undergraduate research; creative work in art, dance, theater, music and film/video; projects conducted in the context of academic courses; and service-learning. The summit spotlights the rich intellectual life of the College. www.bates.edu/mt-david-summit.xml

3. Groundbreakings soon for residences, Commons
Visitors will soon see some tangible results from the Bates Master Plan: A groundbreaking for a 58,000-square-foot residential complex serving 150 students is expected in late May or early June. The $17.4 million building next to Rand Hall will help reduce the density of residence hall housing, and is expected to open for students in August 2008. Next, ground will be broken this fall on a 60,000-square-foot dining facility scheduled to open in January 2008. The $28.7 million facility will be centrally located next to Alumni Gym across from Pettengill Hall and bordering Central Avenue. This facility will represent the best of the Commons that students now love – conversation, dining, friendship and connection – but it will no longer be hamstrung by limited space, outmoded equipment and costly inefficiencies. To read more and view architect renderings and floor plans: www.bates.edu/x58821.xml

4. Admissions Office anticipates repeat of record numbers
The Office of Admissions is on track to repeat last year's record number of applications, with 4,427 received by late February. Enough additional transfer applications are expected to bring the total close to or above 4,500, matching last year's record number. Applicants hail from 50 states and 98 countries. Alumni interview requests were up nearly 10 percent, totaling 1,044. Serving these requests resulted in a 25 percent increase in alumni interviews conducted. The staff of Admissions wants to thank all the students, alumni and families who helped in outreach efforts – more than 3,000 students were interviewed! Throughout March, the Admissions Committee will be hard at work selecting one out of four applicants to be offered admission. The College anticipates that approximately 500 new students will enroll in September.

5. Women's basketball invited to NCAA tourney
The Bobcat women (19-8) received an at-large bid to be among the 63 teams in their second consecutive NCAA tournament. They'll travel to Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, N.Y., to play Bridgewater (Va.) College (22-6), league runner-up of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, on Friday, March 3. The winner will advance to play Saturday. The Bates men's team received no NCAA bid, but ended its season with a 20-6 overall record and a 6-3 mark in one of the toughest conferences in Division III, as well as a second straight trip to the NESCAC semifinals. The Bobcat men became the first team in school history to reach the 20-victory plateau, and surpassed the previous school record for winning streaks by claiming 16 consecutive games, spanning Dec. 2 to Feb. 2. www.bates.edu/x112877.xml

6. Coffin is NESCAC Player of the Year, Reilly is Coach of the Year
Bates College junior Meg Coffin was recognized as the premier women's basketball player in the New England Small College Athletic Conference, while sophomore teammates Sarah Barton and Matia Kostakis also earned league honors. Coffin, a second-team All-NESCAC player a year ago, made the leap to become Player of the Year for 2005-06, the second straight season a Bates player has won the honor – Olivia Zurek '05 won it last season. www.bates.edu/x112681.xml

In men's basketball, Bates College head coach Joe Reilly was named Coach of the Year and juniors Zak Ray and Rob Stockwell each made the All-NESCAC Second Team for the second year in a row as postseason honors were announced for men's basketball on March 1 by the New England Small College Athletic Conference. Reilly, in his ninth season as head coach at Bates, led the Bobcats to the best season in program history, going 20-6 and setting school records for wins in a season, regular-season wins (19) and longest winning streak (16). www.bates.edu/x112680.xml

7. Book Club members to attend national tour readings
Members of Bates Book Clubs in Boston and Portland will be attending readings during a national tour by Elizabeth Strout '77, the author of the bestselling debut novel, "Amy and Isabelle," as she returns with her highly anticipated second novel, "Abide with Me." To catch up with Elizabeth on her book tour, click here for the complete list of dates, cities and places. www.randomhouse.com/author/event/

8. Bates People in the News
History professor Margaret Creighton was honored for her Gettysburg history, The Boston Globe reported, while the San Francisco Chronicle tapped religion professor John Strong's expertise in Buddhist relics. Meanwhile, as all eyes turned to the Turin Olympic games, the Portland Press Herald covered the role sports agent Peter Carlisle '92 has played in introducing a new generation of sports such as snowboardcross. Another alum, Peter Moore '78, made the national news: first with a major article about Ernest Hemingway in Men's Health, of which he is executive editor, and then on CNN as a subject in a piece about – wait for it – men's health. www.bates.edu/bates-in-the-news.xml