By . Published on February 23, 2023

Baccalaureate 2023

Saturday May 27, 2023
11:00 a.m., The Historic Quad

Baccalaureate is a reflective ceremony planned and led by members of the graduating Class of 2023 in collaboration with the Bates Multifaith Chaplaincy. Marking a milestone moment, the ceremony shares gratitude through the voices of students from many backgrounds and traditions and through many forms of artistic expression including poetry, music, dance, and storytelling.

Baccalaureate is held on the Historic Quad (rain or shine) and seniors process into the service wearing caps and gowns. All friends and family are welcome to attend and seating is first-come, first-served. The procession begins at 10:50, with a musical prelude before.

We invite parents and families to contribute to the festivities in two ways:

Parents & Families Reflection

We hope to include you in the festivities in two ways:

Parents & Families Reflection

We invite you to send us your reflection on this moment and we will compile the responses and make selections representing the combined voices of our graduates’ parents and guardians.

Please send in your responses no later than Tuesday, April 4th. You can submit them by emailing multifaithchaplaincy@bates.edu with the subject line: “Baccalaureate Family Members and Loved Ones Reflection.”

If you would like to have your thoughts– whether in the form of poetry, prayers, prose, or short stories– in the ceremony, please read the prompts below and email your responses.

  1. Tell us about a moment when you realized your student had grown while at Bates.
  2. What does your student’s graduation from college mean to you or your family?
  3. What reassurance would you give to them as they enter into this new chapter?

Blessing Cards

Baccalaureate begins with a procession of the senior class into the historic Quad and ends with a recessional. The graduating class enters and exits through trellises that are adorned with blessing cards that bear the well-wishes of family and loved ones.

Parents and guardians will receive a blessing tag in the mail with a letter conveying the information on this page. Please decorate the tags to honor your graduate and bring them with you to hang on the trellises before the ceremony or mail them back to us at:

Multifaith Chaplaincy
Bates College
163 Wood St.
Lewiston, ME 04240

Ribbon for tying the tags on the trellises will be available beginning at 9:00am on Saturday, May 27th. If you do not bring one, there will be a table to the left of the stage with blessing tags and supplies for decorating. Afterward, there will be scissors next to the trellises to cut down your tag and take it with you.

Blessing cards awaiting the graduating class at Baccalaureate in 2022.

If you have any questions, please contact the Multifaith Chaplaincy at multifaithchaplaincy@bates.edu or 207-786-8272.

Class of 2022 celebrates Baccalaureate on the Historic Quad with Baccalaureate address delivered by Josh Rubin, Ph.D., visiting assistant professor of Anthropology. Saturday May 28, 2022 11:00 a.m., The Historic Quad Baccalaureate is a gathering of graduating seniors and their families and friends to celebrate this milestone in their lives and give thanks for the help they received along the way. It is a joyous celebration planned by students that features poetry, story-telling, a cappella, a student band, dance, parent reflections and an address by a faculty or staff person chosen by the graduating class. Baccalaureate is held on the Historic Quad (rain or shine) and seniors process into the service wearing caps and gowns. All friends and family are welcome to attend and seating is first-come, first-served. The procession begins at 10:50, with a musical prelude before. We invite parents and families to contribute to the festivities in two ways: Parents & Families Reflection and Blessing Cards
Class of 2022 celebrates Baccalaureate on the Historic Quad with Baccalaureate address delivered by Josh Rubin, Ph.D., visiting assistant professor of Anthropology. Saturday May 28, 2022 11:00 a.m., The Historic Quad Baccalaureate is a gathering of graduating seniors and their families and friends to celebrate this milestone in their lives and give thanks for the help they received along the way. It is a joyous celebration planned by students that features poetry, story-telling, a cappella, a student band, dance, parent reflections and an address by a faculty or staff person chosen by the graduating class. Baccalaureate is held on the Historic Quad (rain or shine) and seniors process into the service wearing caps and gowns. All friends and family are welcome to attend and seating is first-come, first-served. The procession begins at 10:50, with a musical prelude before. We invite parents and families to contribute to the festivities in two ways: Parents & Families Reflection and Blessing Cards
Class of 2022 celebrates Baccalaureate on the Historic Quad with Baccalaureate address delivered by Josh Rubin, Ph.D., visiting assistant professor of Anthropology. Saturday May 28, 2022 11:00 a.m., The Historic Quad Baccalaureate is a gathering of graduating seniors and their families and friends to celebrate this milestone in their lives and give thanks for the help they received along the way. It is a joyous celebration planned by students that features poetry, story-telling, a cappella, a student band, dance, parent reflections and an address by a faculty or staff person chosen by the graduating class. Baccalaureate is held on the Historic Quad (rain or shine) and seniors process into the service wearing caps and gowns. All friends and family are welcome to attend and seating is first-come, first-served. The procession begins at 10:50, with a musical prelude before. We invite parents and families to contribute to the festivities in two ways: Parents & Families Reflection and Blessing Cards
Categories: Commencement 2023