Discover a vast array of choices at Bates. In the classroom or the lab, or on the stage or playing field, experience a community personified by enrichment and excellence. Take a look at our award-winning students, athletes, faculty, and staff as they course through the month of March.

Team Huddle

Ava James ’26 of Bethesda, Md., Mya Hicks ’27 of Ann Arbor, Mich., and Elsa Daulerio ’26 of Harpswell, Maine, huddle during their winning game against Smith in the second round of the NCAA Division III Championships.

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In the Classroom

Professor of Religious Studies Cynthia Baker addresses students in her “Sacred Ecologies” course, preparing them for a visit from Bayley Marquez, author of Plantation Pedagogy: The Violence of Schooling Across Black and Indigenous Space. Marquez was giving a book talk on campus later that day.

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NCAA Champions

Tim Johnson ’27of Brewster, Mass., Marrich Somridhivej ’26 of South Windsor, Conn., Nate Oppenheim ’28 of Easton, Conn., and Max Cory ’26 of Dublin, Calif. celebrate at the NCAA Championships after taking home fourth place in the 400-yard freestyle relay final with a time of 2:57.90, the best finish by a Bates 400 free relay at the NCAAs in program history.

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Everybody Acting

Mo Al-Jabry ’28 of Singapore performs in Gannett Theater during Bates Theater’s production of Everybody, a play by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins.

Tickets sold out for all performances of the play, which features an ensemble cast whose roles change during each performance based on a lottery.

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Raising Their Glasses

Students from the Class of 2026 cheer during the Senior Toast event in Pettengill Hall’s Perry Atrium, held annually to recognize graduating students. Classmates cast their votes on the ivy stone design, collected their senior superlatives, and raised their glasses to celebrate their achievements at Bates — and look toward the future.

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NCAA Tourney

Jamari Robinson ’29 of Holbrook, Mass., attacks the hoop for a layup during an NCAA Tournament game against Yeshiva University, held at Montclair State University. 

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A Great Day

From left, Leah Belber ’26 of Washington, D.C., Bates President Garry W. Jenkins, and Olivia Thomas ’28 of Valley Stream, N.J., show off their Bates spirit (and gear) during a livestream celebrating Great Day to be a Bobcat, Bates’ annual day of giving. 

The day was a success, culminating in 2,481 donors — hundreds more than Bates’ goal for the day — who came together to raise over $1.18 million.

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On the Court

Rocco Regnier ’29 of Eureka, Mo., makes contact with the ball during a tennis match against Middlebury at home in Merrill Gymnasium. 

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Celebrating Ramadan

Students gather in Chase Hall’s Memorial Commons for the 2026 Ramadan Banquet hosted by the Muslim Student Association, featuring community, celebration, and a delicious buffet.

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Costumes in Class

Students in Senior Lecturer in French and Francophone Studies Laura Balladur’s course “Oral French” don costumes and perform for their classmates, as they do every Monday. Balladur employs these weekly performances — along with improvisation, debate, and one-on-one evaluations — to help students develop oral fluency in French and knowledge of Francophone culture.

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Winterreise

Visiting musicians Randall Scarlata and Gilbert Kalish host a master class for Bates students in Olin Concert Hall. The two musicians, plus musician Susan Youens, visited campus for three days in March for their “Winterreise” residency, during which they instructed Bates students in vocal and piano performance, and gave performances themselves.

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Learning About Politics

Assistant Professor of Politics Seulgie Lim instructs students in her “Gender, Power, and Politics” course, which examines institutions where political power is produced. The goal is to assess how gender impacts the role of political actors.

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On Garcelon

At center, Caroline Keating ’26 of Rye, N.Y., takes a shot during a home lacrosse game against Middlebury on Garcelon Field. At back left is Sarah Stavrovich ’28 of Westfield, N.J.

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Learning Together

Senior Lecturer in Gender and Sexuality Studies Melinda Plastas engaging with students in her “Race Matters: Tobacco in North America” course in Roger Williams Hall.

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Chatting with Students

During a meeting of her “On Gender and Tyranny” course in Bonney Science Center, Charles A Dana Professor of Gender and Sexuality Studies Rebecca Herzig takes a seat next to her students.

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Leaning Into It

At right, Emma Yen ’26 of Albertson, N.Y., throws the ball to first base during a softball game against the University of Wisconsin in Kissimmee, Fla. At left is Ella Maher ’26 of Newton, Mass.

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Introduction to American Studies

Associate Professor of American Studies Myron Beasley gazes across his classroom during his “Introduction to American Studies” course in Pettengill Hall.

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Lights, Camera, Action

Cian Magner, an academic technology consultant for digital media technologies with the Bates Digital Media Studios, films students performing a scene for Associate Professor of Theater Tim Dugan’s “Acting and the Camera” course.

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Debate Prep

Students in Assistant Professor of Rhetric, Film, and Screen Studies and Director of Debate  Lauren Buisker’s “Introduction to Argumentation” course study together in Pettigrew Hall.

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Class Discussion

Assistant Professor of Japanese Language and Asian Studies Hanna McGaughey speaks with students in her “Samurai: Ethics, Gender, and Orientalism” course in Hedge Hall.

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Making a Film Festival

Professor of Rhetoric, Film, and Screen Studies Jon Cavallero speaks to students in his “Film Festival Studies” course. Throughout the semester, students have been planning the 2026 edition of the annual Bates Film Festival, which will take place on campus and at other venues in Maine during Short Term in May.

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Lewiston Adventures

From left, Phoebe Last ’29, Cathy Shi ’28, Misra Ahmed ’28, and Paolo Lopez ’29 venture off-campus for a trip to Forage Market, a popular bagel, pastry, and coffee shop in Lewiston.

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Night at the Museum

During the first-ever Bates Curates event at the Bates Museum of Art, Assistant Curator Samantha Sigmon introduces attendees — including faculty, staff, and students — to the exhibition Shellburne Thurber: Full Circle, prior to inviting them to vote on which work from the exhibition they would like Bates to acquire for its permanent collection.

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Tiny Desk Concert

Bates student band “The Lot Lizards” gives a performance à la NPR’s “Tiny Desk” in the WRBC basement. A collaboration between WRBC, the Bates Musicians Union, and the Village Club Series, the performance was a hit, with a crowd packing into the basement and more watching online.

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Welcome to Bates

A current student leads a group of students admitted to the Class of 2030 and their families on a tour across campus during the first of two Bates Beginnings days for admitted students. At Bates Beginnings, prospective and committed students have the opportunity to explore campus, learn about academic programs from faculty, and hear from current students about student life. The second Bates Beginnings session is on April 17.

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Jumping for Joy

At center, Tyler Tucker ’28 of Hamilton, N.J., and David Swift ’28 of Yarmouth, Maine, chest bump during their home baseball opener against Plymouth State University.

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Flipping of the Birds

College Archivist Pat Webber sets up Bates’ copy of John J. Audubon’s Birds of America portfolio during the Flipping of the Birds event, which each month marks the moment when a new page and bird species from the portfolio is displayed in Ladd Library. March’s event was a special collaboration between Muskie Archives and the Bates Birding Club, and the latter chose to display the red crossbill, a boreal finch species found in Androscoggin County.

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A Cappella

Bates’ five a cappella groups — the Crosstones, the Deansmen, the Manic Optimists, the Merimanders, and TakeNotes — perform during their annual Sex Week concert in Gomes Chapel.