Countdown to Commencement
For many, Commencement is a one-and-done visit. For others in the audience — local alumni, retirees, and Lewiston friends — it’s an annual touchstone, rich with memories, friendships, and purpose.
The skies were changeable but the mood was resoundingly upbeat on Sunday, May 31, as 480 members of the Class of 2026 celebrated their Bates graduation surrounded by family and friends, and bolstered by speeches that dwelled on bright promises, both those already delivered and those to come.
Bates will recognize four honorary degree recipients during Commencement on May 31, including Commencement speaker Deborah Harkness.