Spring is a time of rebirth. With that in mind, we’ve included a newborn in this latest edition of This Month at Bates, a collection of images filled with signs of resilience, community, creativity, and spirit. We hope that there’s something for everyone on our latest visual menu.
Panel Perspective
From left, Sokona Mangane ’23 of Brooklyn, N.Y., Sam Jean-Francois ’23 of Medford, Mass., and Mohamed Diawara ’23 of Philadelphia reflect on their personal experiences during a panel discussion about “Growing up in America with Immigrant Parents,” as part of the 2023 Africana Conference, hosted by the Africana Club on March 11.
Having a ‘Bawl’
Assistant Professor of Hispanic Studies Stephanie Pridgeon brought her 2-month-old son, Archer, to campus to pick up a book from Ladd Library, and say “hi!” to a few colleagues in Lane Hall. He seemed less than amused, but everything’s so big and loud at that age, can we blame him? The photograph “captures his feistiness,” said his mother.
Sunset Splendor
A gorgeous pink-and-purple sunset frames Parker Hall on March 11. Snow is still piled outside, soon to be melted by warmer days ahead.
Come to the Table
Bates students got an opportunity to let their cultures shine at the annual International Dinner, hosted by the International Club in the Gray Athletic Building. Featuring food and formal dress from all over the world for five decades, the dinner is a celebration of the cultures and community that Bates represents.
Hat Trick
Abby Segal ’23 of Chelmsford, Mass., left, and Jacob Iwowo ’23 of Beckenham, England, pose with the prize check they won in a first place tie at the 2023 Bobcat Ventures competition. The prize money will go towards launching Segal’s one-woman magic act, and boosting Iwowo’s soccer startup, Up Next Academy. (While the check’s amount says $4,000 each, the prize was later bumped to $6,000 each.) (Ken Williams ’23 for Bates College)
Reaching for the Win
Ally Friedman ’24 of East Hampton, N.Y., won at No. 1 doubles and No. 1 singles to help the Bates women’s tennis team defeat nationally ranked Wellesley at Merrill Gymnasium.
‘Dance for Peace’
Assistant Professor of Dance Brian Evans offers guidance during a dance rehearsal in the Marcy Plavin Dance Studio, as a group of students prepare to perform Dance for Peace at the Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley, Mass. Directed by Ruslan Peredelskyi ’25 of Kyiv, Ukraine, the event was part of a fundraiser for Uniting For Ukraine, a program for Ukrainian refugees seeking to settle in the U.S.
Swooping in for a Kiss
Emily Diaz ‘23 of Corona, N.Y., turns a trope on its head as she dips Brady Chilson ’23 of Carlisle, Pa., for a kiss during a dress rehearsal for the Bates theater production of Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare’s classic romantic comedy. That wasn’t the only trope they flipped, either: the cast had a ball upending the play’s portrayals of gender and power.
Here’s the Windup
Men’s track and field team captain Liam Byrne ’23 of Ridgefield, Conn., won the hammer throw at the Bates Quad Meet, hosted and won by the Bobcats at Russell Street Track & Field on April 1.
S’no More Snow
Members of the Bates women’s track and field team take to the paths on the Historic Quad just a few days before opening the outdoor track and field season in the Bates College Quad Meet on April 1.
Squish In!
Kelly Saldana ’26 (left) of New York City shares a comfortable Ladd Library seat with Alexandria Georgiadis ’26 of Interlaken, N.Y., as they caught up with Elizabeth Gallegos ’26 of Denver, Colo., after returning from March break. “We’re reuniting,” they said.
Poetic Presence
Porsha Olayiwola performs during a Village Club Series and Black Student Union event at the Benjamin Mays Center in April. An author and poet from Boston, Olayiwola creates dialogue about queer, Black, and female identity-related issues through a lens of afro-futurism and surrealism.
Sorting Her Thoughts
Frieda Kickliter ’23, a studio art major from Mobile, Ala., sorts through her art in preparation for the upcoming Annual Senior Art Exhibition, opening on April 14, in the Bates College Museum of Art. One of three studio art majors presenting work at the exhibition, Kickliter has painted large-scale abstract paintings with oil and ink, inspired by architecture and natural landscapes and shapes.
Summit Smarts
Dana Professor of Physics Hong Lin (right) listens as Kona Lindsey ’23, a double major in physics and mathematics from Colorado Springs, Colo., explains his thesis project, titled “Visualization of Ultracold Quantum Gas Bubbles in the Cold Atom Laboratory,” advised by Professor of Physics Nathan Lundblad during the Mount David Summit in March.
‘Subtle Delights’
Tricia Ballard ’23, a studio art major from Larchmont, N.Y., is a ceramicist who loves simplicity. Her thesis artwork, a selection of ceramic kitchenware, is inspired by the “subtle delights” of everyday life, and has also been a new journey for Ballard: before Bates, her artistic expression was through painting and drawing.
Every Little Detail
Jordan Wilson ’23 of Medfield, Mass., a double major in art history and studio art, works in her Olin Arts studio on a piece for her thesis: a collection of drawn and painted portraits, capturing moments in time and all the minutiae within them.
Battle of the Ball
Mick Burden ’23 of Kenilworth, Ill., battles for a face-off against Hamilton on April 8 at Garcelon Field.
Choir Connection
The Bates College Choir, conducted by Jöelle Morris with collaborative piano by Chiharu Naruse, performs in the Olin Arts Center Concert Hall in April. Their performance included “Nda Wana,” a traditional South African piece, arranged by Michael Barrett, and “On the Mountain,” a traditional Ukrainian piece arranged by David Patriquin.
On the Move
Allison Greuel ’23 of Freeport, Maine, moves the ball down the field for the women’s lacrosse team in a game against Williams on April 1 at Garcelon Field.
Above the Bar
Rosemary McKerley ’25 of Coventry, Conn., competes in the pole vault at the Bates Quad Meet, hosted by the Bobcats on April 1.
Master Class
Associate Professor of German Jakub Kazecki teaches a master class for newly admitted students visiting Bates on April 3. His topic was experiencing Berlin through literature, film, and urban landscape in Hathorn Hall.
For the World
P’al Mundo, or “For the World,” a night of multicultural dancing, music, poetry, and art performed by students was hosted by Bates’ Latinx Club, Raices Unidas, in the Olin Arts Center Concert Hall, on April 2.
First Taste of Bates
Admitted students and their families traveled to campus on April 3 for a day of tours, master classes, panel discussions, and meet-and-greets with Bates leaders, including President Clayton Spencer and Vice President for Enrollment and Dean of Admission and Financial Aid Leigh Weisenburger.
Dancing a Story
From left, Mariana Kaluba ‘25 of Lusaka, Zambia, Ruslan Peredelskyi ’25 of Kyiv, Ukraine, and Olivia Krug ’26 of Fryeburg, Maine, perform “WHY SHE CAN’T SLEEP AT NIGHT,” one of two pieces inspired by the stories of people affected by the war in Ukraine, performed during the Spring Dance Concert at Schaeffer Theatre.
Up to Bat
Ella Maher ’26 of Newton, Mass., watches a pitch miss high during a 13-1 win over Bowdoin at Lafayette Street Field.
Breaking Fast
Mohammed Mohammed ‘26 of Iowa City prays during the Ramadan Banquet, hosted by Bates’ Muslim Student Association, in the Benjamin Mays Center in April. The gathering gave students a chance to break fast in community, surrounded by friends and food.
Let Them Eat Books (and Cake)
A crowd forms as contestants place their entries for the second annual Edible Books Festival at Ladd Library on April 7. Inspired by books and baked with care, the erudite edibles were judged in two categories — taste, and creativity — just like last year.
A Record Steal
Henry Jamieson ’23 of St. Simons Island, Ga., slides safely into second base for a steal during the Bates baseball team’s 9-3 win over Husson at Leahey Field. The Bobcats have stolen more than 100 bases this season, breaking the program record for steals in one year.
Scholarly Superpowers
At right, Professor of Gender and Sexuality Studies Rebecca Herzig celebrates with her costumed senior thesis advisees: Tyler Shambaugh ’23 of Chevy Chase, Md., as Superman; Serena Sen ’23 of New York City in a super Swix ski suit; and Elliott Vahey ’23 of Shaker Heights, Ohio, as Catwoman.
They had just performed the happy senior ritual, binding their theses on the Ladd Library Terrace in front of classmates, staff, and faculty.
“Each of these students wrote a thesis that would have been terrific in any year, but after all they have been through, especially phenomenal in this one,” said Herzig.
