Impact: Student Achievement

Presented to graduating Bates seniors at Commencement, endowed funds that recognize academic success, leadership, and service, celebrate individual accomplishments while inspiring current Bates students to strive for similar distinction.

student posing before the Capitol
Aaliyah Moore ’24 poses for a portrait at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on July 18, 2023, during her summer internship at Kellogg Hansen law firm. (Cheriss May / Ndemay Media Group for Bates College)

Among the many senior awards presented at Commencement is the Benjamin E. Mays, Class of 1920, Award, which recognizes a senior who exemplifies the values of Benjamin Mays in academic excellence, service to the college, and moral leadership. 

In 2024, Aaliyah Moore ’24 earned the Mays Award.

Benjamin E. Mays, Class of 1920, Award

  • FY24 Book Value: $
  • FY24 Market Value: $
  • Amount Spent to Support Bates Students in FY25: $

During her time at Bates, she earned a prestigious Truman Scholarship for her demonstrated leadership potential, academic excellence, and a commitment to public service.

The fund was established by Henry Louis Gates Jr., the influential and esteemed literary critic, historian, and Harvard University professor who offered the 1994 Commencement address and served as a Bates trustee.