At campuses around the country, this time of year tends to be all about the graduating seniors, and rightfully so – they’ve worked hard, left their mark, and will soon be heading off on new adventures. To keep things interesting, though, we thought we’d shine a light on a couple of students who are finishing up their first year at Bates. 

Both Luca Balzano and Natalie Gersen made off-campus community engagement an important part of their first year in college, and both are being recognized this week at the 2025 Harward Center Awards Celebration for the quality and impact of their community-engaged work. Both were generous enough to answer a few questions about their first year at Bates and how their experiences in the local off-campus community colored that experience. 

Where are you from, and what drew you to Bates? 

Luca: I am from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. I chose Bates College because of its strong academic reputation, and I was recruited to play on the men’s soccer team. I plan to double major in American Studies and Anthropology, as I believe these fields will best prepare me for my future career in law.

Natalie: I am from Cambridge, Massachusetts! I was initially drawn to Bates because my dad and extended family are from Lewiston-Auburn, and I was so excited to reconnect with the area. I loved Bates’ emphasis on community and connection within the Bates student body and beyond into Lewiston. After my first visit to Bates, I knew I would find my people here, and I am happy to report it has been everything I had hoped for!

What was one highlight of your first year at Bates?

Luca: Coming from a small college prep school was so confining. At Bates, I have had so many opportunities to meet students from around the world, making my transition to Bates exciting. One highlight of my freshman year at Bates was my involvement in teaching demonstrations for job candidates in the Anthropology department. This opportunity allowed me to engage with innovative pedagogical techniques while deepening my understanding of anthropology. Contributing to the hiring process was a remarkable experience I will carry throughout my academic journey.

Natalie: One of the highlights of my first year at Bates has been joining the women’s club soccer team. I am new to the sport, but I wanted to try something new and make friends this fall. I met the most amazing girls while pushing myself to learn new skills! Playing in my first soccer game this fall was truly an unforgettable moment; even though I could barely pass the ball, all I could hear was my teammates cheering me on. I am so grateful for these girls and my team!

What surprised or challenged you in your first year at Bates? 

Luca: Despite being a small school, Bates fosters a strong sense of camaraderie and community among its students. I was pleasantly surprised by the dedication and care shown by all my professors this year. They genuinely cared about my well-being and success, significantly contributing to my achievements and creating a supportive learning environment. Plus, the people in Maine are so friendly and welcoming. 

Natalie: Freshman year has been full of so many wonderful moments, but it has not been without its challenges. I have always been a big planner; I love to think ahead and account for every detail, and I anticipated taking this mindset with me to college. Unfortunately for me, so many of college’s best moments are times of spontaneity and adventure. One of the most challenging, but also rewarding experiences has been coming to terms with all that I cannot control in college and realizing that’s okay!

You’ve been recognized for “outstanding community engagement” during your first year at Bates. What did your off-campus involvement look like this year, and what insights, skills, or capacities did that involvement help you develop or strengthen? 

Luca: During my first year at Bates, I focused my off-campus involvement in Lewiston on working with the Rosati Leadership Academy. This mentorship program combines soccer and leadership development for local middle and high schoolers. As a mentor, I helped coach weekly practices and built relationships with the students through group activities centered on goal-setting, communication, and teamwork. This experience prompted significant personal growth; I learned that being a mentor also means being a learner. Leadership is not just about having all the answers; it’s about creating an environment where individuals feel seen, heard, and empowered.

Working with the students at the Rosati Academy deepened my interest in how mentorship can foster community-building. My experiences there connected me to the concepts I learned in my anthropology classes about cultural relativity and relationality. These concepts urge us to understand people’s beliefs, values, and practices within their cultural context rather than judge them by the standards of another culture, particularly those of American culture. Reflecting on my class lectures and life experiences, I believe in cultural humility and that no culture’s practices are inherently superior; instead, each culture develops its own meaningful norms and values.

This experience challenged me to view leadership as a collective endeavor rather than an individual pursuit, built through trust, consistency, and mutual respect. It has also provided me with a fresh perspective on the role of sports as a bridge across cultural and linguistic differences, especially since many of the students come from immigrant and refugee backgrounds. 

Overall, my time at Rosati has helped me to grow not just as a leader but also as a listener, a collaborator, and a more thoughtful community member. Coach White, the director at  Rosati, is an exceptional teacher and has been an important role model for me. When I am not at Rosati, I miss the children and the joy of seeing their smiles or witnessing their eyes light up when they see me. It’s a wonderful feeling that I will treasure for the rest of my life.

Natalie: This year, I worked with The Center for Wisdom’s Women in Lewiston, a drop-in center for women in the Lewiston-Auburn area. The Center offers a female-only safe space where guests can receive essential resources like food and clothing, as well as participate in daily activities like drawing and poetry reading. As a volunteer, I worked to help organize the center’s activities, as well as assist guests in any capacity. 

Beyond any arts and crafts activities, the most incredible part of this experience has been the connections I made with the women at the Center. I am so honored to have shared such a strong relationship with so many of the guests. Although the Center is closing, these relationships have changed my life, and I look forward to finding other ways to connect with the guests in the future. 

In my sociology course this fall, we focused on contemporary social problems like poverty, incarceration, and homelessness. Many, although not all, of the guests at the Center have experienced some of these challenges, and hearing their stories first hand has completely altered the way I think about homelessness and poverty. I think so many people create one narrative for all homeless or struggling people, often placing the blame on them for their circumstances; however, my time at the Center for Wisdom’s Women has only defied these stereotypes. The women at the Center are the strongest, fiercest, and most incredible people I have ever met, and I am so thankful for Bates and the Harward Center for connecting me to this community.

Congratulations, Luca and Natalie, and thanks for sharing your experiences with us!