Angelina Moncrieffe ’24 (left) and Nina Greeley ’24 head back to their Page Hall residence in September 2021. The Bates Fund provides critical support for students experiencing Bates at this very moment. Gifts to the Bates Fund impact every aspect of life at Bates, including financial aid, student-faculty research, and campus programming.

In 2021, Bates was selected to partner with the Schuler Education Foundation to make a significant new investment in financial aid for Pell Grant recipients and other low-income students at Bates. A challenge grant of $50 million to Bates College from the Schuler Access Initiative, matched dollar for dollar by Bates donors, will fuel an unprecedented $100 million expansion of financial aid to enroll students from America’s lowest-income families. In fiscal year 2022, donors pledged over $34 million to the Initiative.

Mathieu Moutou ’22 binds his senior thesis in music (“The History of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto to Inform Modern Performance”) with his friends on the steps of Hathorn Hall. More than 96 percent of each graduating class completes a senior thesis. Gifts in support of student research help us to offer opportunities for students to develop the skills and background they need to embark on a senior thesis or capstone project, guided by committed faculty mentors.

The Class of 2022 lines up on Garcelon Field for a class photo in May 2022. Bates is committed to meeting 100 percent of students’ financial need for all four years—a commitment of approximately $40 million in grant aid in fiscal year 2022. This commitment is supported by generous philanthropy from our alumni, parents, and friends. Nearly one-third of donors to the Bates Fund direct their gifts in support of financial aid.

Students perform in “35mm: A Musical Exhibition,” a March 2022 collaboration between the Department of Theater and Dance and the Department of Music featuring three thesis students. Music and lyrics for “35mm” are by Ryan Scott Oliver, and photographs are by Matthew Murphy. Bates’ robust academic arts offerings—in disciplines including theater, dance, music, writing, and art and visual culture—encourage creativity, experimentation, and rigor. The entire Bates community benefits from the depth and breadth of the ongoing artistic work on campus.

Associate Professor of Physics Aleksandar Diamond-Stanic gathers his summer 2022 student researchers around a table to hone their ability to understand visual representations of astronomical data. Bates offers financial support for students conducting research during the academic year and the summer.

In February, Bates women’s basketball defeated Amherst 52-49 in Alumni Gym to win the program’s first NESCAC championship. They advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament, the fourth time in Bates history that women’s basketball has advanced past the first round. Gifts to the Friends of Bates Athletics enhance the experience of all our student athletes. Bates athletics promote teamwork, leadership, and integrity, and lead to lifelong friendships.

Kendall Williams ‘23 of Phenix City, Ala., poses for a portrait during a Bates-funded Purposeful Work internship with the multinational consulting firm Accenture in Houston over the summer. Grounded in the Bates mission, Purposeful Work helps students align who they are with what they do. It helps students identify and cultivate their interests and strengths and provides opportunities for them to acquire the knowledge, experiences, and relationships necessary to pursue their aspirations. (Photo: Arturo Olmos for Bates College)

The Deansmen, Bates’ oldest a cappella group, prepare to perform after the 2021 Convocation ceremony. There are approximately 100 student clubs and organizations at Bates (including multiple a cappella groups!), offering community, growth experiences, and learning beyond the classroom.

Assistant Professor of Biology Lori Banks (right) works with thesis students in her lab in Bonney Science Center. The Bonney Science Center, which opened in September 2021, is a transformative home for science at Bates. Its teaching and research spaces, advanced instrumentation rooms, state-of-the-art vivarium, and beautiful spaces for study and exchange inspire innovation and collaboration.