Commencement 2025 Archives
Picture Story: Bates Commencement 2024 celebrates seniors who ‘have been tested, and have persevered’
This immersive picture story captures Commencement for the Bates Class of 2024, which came in with a pandemic and went out on May 26 in high style and great happiness.
From Iraq to Bates: ‘Sometimes, it’s the detours that lead us to our true destinies’
From shelling in Iraq to the shelter of Bates, Mohammed Shwani ’24 was able to find a public platform during…
Try not to let the success treadmill ‘obscure the actual living of life,’ Bates seniors told at 158th Commencement
One of the nation’s foremost journalists, NPR’s Mary Louise Kelly, offered three pieces of life advice to the Class of…
Mary Louise Kelly, journalist and co-host of NPR flagship program ‘All Things Considered,’ to deliver 2024 Bates Commencement Address, joined by honorands Richard Blanco and Clayton Spencer
Set for May 26, 2024, the 158th Bates College Commencement takes place on the Coram Library Terrace on the Historic Quad.
Commencement 2024 Map
This campus map shows locations of various resources and activities for Bates Commencement on Sunday, May 26, 2024, including vehicle…
Celebrate With Bobcat Lawn Signs
Want to show your Bobcat pride? Download one of our printable PDFs.
FAQs: What to expect for Commencement 2024
We are looking forward to welcoming Bates families and friends to campus in May to celebrate the Class of 2024. We will continue to update this website as more details are confirmed.
Commencement 2024 Schedule
The 158th Commencement of Bates College will take place on Sunday, May 26, 2024, beginning at 10 a.m. and ending shortly after noon on the Coram Library Terrace on the Historic Quad.
Video: Ready for their 2023 Bates Commencement closeups
As bleary-eyed seniors slowly arrived on Commencement morning, we were there, inviting them to pose for slow-motion portraits. Slow no more!
Video: ‘Do you drink the water or the wave?’ asks Baccalaureate speaker Chris Schiff
It’s a line from a postmodern novel: “Which do you drink? The water or the wave?” We plan to drink the water. But then the waves come crashing, says Chris Schiff in his Baccalaureate address.