The final month of the academic year begins with students wielding rakes and radar, and ends with fist pumps, Ferragamos, and farewells. The crescendo of Commencement arrives and passes, followed by time for respite and rejuvenation. But before the curtain rises once again, and before the next story unfolds, enjoy this month at Bates.
Discovery in Process
Caroline Friedman ’25 (center) of Mercer Island, Wash., and Will Morris ’27 (right) of Wayland, Mass., operate a Ground Penetrating Radar device on May 1 along Alumni Walk as Assistant Professor of Earth and Climate Sciences Shreya Arora (left) watches their progress.
The GPR device does what its name suggests, using radar pulses to create images of subsurface features. On this day, the students were investigating the location of underground storage space beneath Alumni Walk, created when Lane Hall and the bygone Maintenance Center were built during the 1960s.
The students were part of Arora’s hands-on, outdoor-focused Short Term course that teaches the ins and outs of various technical equipment, and how mastering equipment can help critical thinking, problem-solving, and employability.
Ink, Press, Joy
From canvas totes to tank tops, creativity was in full swing at the annual Free Press printmaking event held outside Commons on May 7.
Participants used a variety of stamps, all created by Bates student artists, rolled the stamps in ink, and then felt the simple joy of pressing ink onto fabric — no experience required. The event was sponsored by the Multifaith Chaplaincy and organized by Multifaith Fellows Jilly Scott-Lewis ’27 of Portland, Ore., Rosina Makwabe ’26 of Arusha, Tanzania, and Hana Roggendorf ’27 of West Hartford, Conn.
Rake Break
“The best part of Short Term is that we get to work with our friends in Facility Services who are amazing and some of the best people I know on this campus,” said Jonah Yaffe ’26 of Dallas, a gardening assistant for the Facilities Services grounds crew, hard at work beautifying the campus ahead of Commencement and Reunion.
Yaffe, photographed in the vicinity of Chase Hall working with fellow student to seed and plant new flowers, took a moment to display his talent at balancing a rake on his nose.
Hopping into Earth Day
The annual Short Term Earth Day barbecue was in full flight as George Fauver ’26 of Bedford, N.Y., leapt over Tommo White ’25 of Duxbury, N.Y., during the May 14 celebration.
Held outside Commons and sponsored by Sustainable Bates and Dining Services, the event featured local food, solar smoothies, bike repair, live music, and plenty of springtime energy.
Softball Sendoff
With joy and flair, Bates softball celebrated Senior Day in early May prior to a doubleheader against Tufts. The team honored its senior Bobcat, Grace Householter (No. 13) of Manhattan Beach, Calif., with a spirited team photo complete with this uplifting moment.
Heart of the Stone
E.J. Holm ’25 of Hamilton, N.Y., tried their hand at masonry during the installation of the Class of 2025 ivy stone by campus mason Ron Tardif.
Holm designed this year’s stone — a stylized map of downtown Lewiston–Auburn with a heart marking Bates’ location — as a tribute to both the college and the community the class has called home. “The stone represents a connection to place that I found in my time at Bates,” says Holm.
‘No Easy Feat’
With a celebratory point and a smile, Uche Anyanwu ’25 of Brooklyn, N.Y., marked the binding of his senior thesis on the steps of Coram Library.
An economics major known on campus as Uche the Chompman — DJ, producer, and artist — Anyanwu explored the economic impact of entertainment and media across Sub-Saharan Africa. The project, he says, “was no easy feat.”
Bates Fulbright Five
Seven young alumni earned Fulbright Student grant offers for 2025–26, including these five members of the Class of 2025, who gathered on Alumni Walk three days before graduation.
From left, Maple Buescher of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, Maddy Kwei of Pasadena, Calif., Charles Breyfogle of Columbus, Ohio, Claire Bohmer of Steamboat Springs, Colo., and Wes DeOreo of Westport, Conn.
Joining these five as Fulbright Student award recipients are recent grads Emma Seitz ’25 of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Helena Raddock ’24 of Warren, Vt.
Bates has been a Top Producer of Fulbright Student awards for 14 years.
Showcase Sweatshirts
Angel Huntsman ’27 of Harpswell, Maine, and Graca Bila ’28 of Westbrook, Maine, wear sweatshirts that celebrate their Short Term course with Assistant Professor of Psychology Elena Maker Castro.
Castro and her students worked together to redesign her “Educational Psychology” course, making suggestions for course materials, assessments, and engagement strategies.
The students wore the shirts during the annual Short Term Showcase, a presentation session where students share findings and progress from two groups of courses, Short Term Innovative Pedagogy and Practitioner-Taught Courses.
Past, Present, and Future
Students in Visiting Assistant Professor of History Janice Levi’s Short Term course “Mobile Histories: Transmitting the Past in Africa and the African Diaspora,” hear from guest speakers Fowsia Musse, a leader and health advocate in the Lewiston community, and Yun Garrison, assistant professor of psychology.
The course explored how people remember their pasts when forced into exile. Specifically, the courses looked at examples of African communities under duress due to climate change, political oppression, and religious persecution.
Granny’s House
For four years, Jose Carmona ’25 of Chicago has made the short walk from campus to visit Carmen Thibodeau, the Lewiston grandmother he gained through a bond that began more than a decade ago with his older siblings and the Thibodeau family.
With hugs, shows, snacks, and sage advice, Carmen helped make Bates — and Maine — feel like home for every Carmona who passed through. “Some of my friends know she’s not my actual grandma,” says Jose. “Others just say, ‘You going to Granny’s?’”
Tuck Time
From left, Roan Hopkins ’27, Hope Seketa ’25, Jack Kingsley ’28, and Willa Laski ’26 review their final presentations for the inaugural “Tuck Business Essentials” Short Term course in late May.
Sponsored by the Center for Purposeful Work, the skills-focused course was taught by faculty of Tuck Business School at Dartmouth and led by Peter Friedman ’92, a Tuck graduate who served as the course’s practitioner-in-residence.
Learning all about data analytics and business intelligence were two “big themes” for the internship, said Laski, while gaining an appreciation for a liberal arts education in business added even more value.
“Tuck taught me the value of embracing a liberal arts background when approaching business ideas. The interpersonal skills that come with a Bates education have really come into play.”
One Last Huddle
During the annual Farewell Celebration for Seniors and Faculty, Daniel Snider ’25 (center, in green cap) and his Orange Whip teammates took a moment to watch the Division III Ultimate championship.
Snider, who won this year’s Donovan Award, Ultimate’s highest honor for skill, spirit, and leadership, reveled in the evening’s laughter, gratitude, and connection, both with his classmates and his professors.
“This event was special,” said Snider, a French and Francophone major from Belfast, Maine, “because we were able to be around each other as friends, rather than just as students and professors. Saying goodbye isn’t easy — but I’m grateful for everyone who made Bates such a meaningful place.”
Peace Through Action
Axelle Tougouma ’27 of Fada N’Gourma, Burkina Faso, received a $10,000 Davis Projects for Peace grant to install a solar-powered irrigation system and provide agricultural training for Burkinabé women refugees in Ivory Coast.
A double major in mathematics and economics, Tougouma is using her analytical skills and passion for service to address food insecurity and support economic independence. “My way to contribute to peace is through humanitarian action,” she says.
Honors and Celebration
Eliza Skillings ’25 of North Yarmouth, Maine, and Maria McEvoy ’25 of Missoula, Mont., react to a slideshow during the Honors Program Celebration Banquet on May 7. Held in Commons, the event recognized students who completed honors theses, and their faculty mentors, with heartfelt remarks, shared stories, and well-earned celebration.
Introduced by Professor of Philosophy David Cummiskey, Kate Fetrow ’13, offered the keynote.
A double major in philosophy and politics at Bates who earned a law degree from Stanford Law School, Fetrow is now with the New York Legal Assistance Group, a leading civil legal services organization, where she litigates structural reform cases on behalf of people experiencing economic hardship.
Stones in Spring
More than 130 ivy stones, dating back to the Class of 1879, dot buildings around campus, with a new stone added each year. Above are two stones found on the side of Hathorn Hall, the oldest building at Bates.
High Five for ’25
Christine Schwartz, associate vice president for dining, conferences, and campus events, and James Reese, associate dean of students for international student programs, touch hands as they greet each other during the senior class photo on May 23 in Underhill Arena.
As two of the many behind-the-scenes Commencement organizers, they helped guide the Class of 2025 into formation — literally — for a 2025 group photo, followed by a champagne toast.
Evening Honors
Students from the Class of 2025 were inducted into honor society Phi Beta Kappa during a ceremony in Olin Arts Concert Hall.
Fifty-eight students out of the 405 participating in Commencement this year were selected to join the prestigious organization, which is the country’s oldest academic honor society.
Starr Power
Starr Bradley ’25 reacts during a recognition and celebration dinner sponsored by the college’s Student Center for Belonging and Community in Gray Athletic Building.
A psychology major from Houston, Bradley became a dedicated youth mentor at Bates. She served as a Community Outreach Fellow for the Harward Center for Community Partnerships and coordinated programming for Tree Street Youth’s girls empowerment program in Lewiston.
In Celebration
Family, loved ones, friends, and supporters of the Class of 2025 gather on the Historic Quad for Baccalaureate on May 24.
Presidential Pose
During Baccalaureate on May 24, Risa Sood Horiuchi ’25 of Queens, N.Y., poses with President Garry W. Jenkins and Raymond Clothier, interim multifaith chaplain.
During the service, Horiuchi offered a tribute to parents, guardians, and supporters.
“Your love has held us through the lows, been with us through the highs, and stayed constant for every moment in between. We’re so proud to have you by our sides and are endlessly grateful for all that you are.”
Early and Elated
Joyful, photo-ready, and dressed in white with garnet Bates stoles, these seniors were among the first to arrive on Alumni Walk for the Commencement. Why so early? “These are the best friends I’ve had in my life,” said Hayden Eckblom ’25, an earth and climate sciences major from Tolland, Conn. “I don’t want to forget them.”
Earned Not Bought
On Commencement morning, mathematics major Jamil Mouehla ’25 of Harrington Park, N.J., wore these Ferragamo loafers, not for their label but for their legacy. A gift from his older brother, they symbolize the family’s values of effort and perseverance. “These shoes were not bought but earned,” says Mouehla. “And I can walk in these shoes as my brother did.”
Ceremonial and Personal
Professor of French and Francophone Studies Mary Rice-DeFosse carries the college mace during Commencement on May 25, 2025. Accorded to the senior member of the Bates faculty, the role is a high ceremonial honor and, judging by her smile, also high personal joy.
Fist Pump Finale
Economics major Hope Seketa ’25 of East Amherst, N.Y., gives a triumphant fist pump as she and other graduates accept congratulations of Bates faculty members during the Commencement recessional.
Float Like a Tribute
Event participants react to the unveiling of a 10-foot bronze statue of Muhammad Ali in downtown Lewiston that honors the city’s connection to Ali’s 1965 “Phantom Punch” victory.
Positioned on Main Street near the bright and colorful Hopeful sculpture, the statue represents the “loud, proud, strong, resilient” spirit of Lewiston, said Maine Gov. Janet Mills, seen in a tan raincoat exuberantly gesturing at the statue.
Among the speakers during the May 31 event were President Garry W. Jenkins (second from left) and Ilyas Bashir ’25 (far left), a newly minted Bates grad and former Golden Gloves champion. “Ali showed us that the fight is bigger than the ring…. That’s why this statue matters, especially to kids in our community who can look up at Ali and see that greatness starts right where we stand.”
Quiet and Reflective
A few days after Commencement and the final departure of students, empty Adirondack chairs on the quiet Historic Quad welcome summer visitors to sit for awhile.
Paul’s Pride
Director of Campus Safety Paul Menice smiles while being recognized for his 35 years of work at the college. A familiar Bates presence since he arrived from Curry College in 1989, Menice has led Campus Safety for five years.
The day-long retreat for the staff of the college’s Student Affairs division included conversations, activities, and remarks from President Garry W. Jenkins and Vice President for Student Affairs Rosanna Ferro.
Gonzo Comes to Bates
Sadie Williams, daughter of famed artist Ralph Steadman and managing director of the Ralph Steadman Art Collection, reacts to Vintage Dr. Gonzo, a life-size bronze sculpture inspired by Steadman’s longtime collaborator, Hunter S. Thompson.
The piece is among more than 149 objects in the current Bates Museum of Art exhibition, Ralph Steadman: And Another Thing, that deftly capture Steadman’s artistic practice.
“It provides an opportunity for everyone — from longtime fans to newcomers —to engage with Ralph Steadman’s incomparable works and experience the unique mind and defining style of such a pivotal creative in American culture,” said Samantha Sigmon, the assistant curator at the Bates Museum of Art who has curated the exhibition.
