Picture Story: You can’t rain on this Alumni Parade

Stories about "Alumni"

Picture Story: You can’t rain on this Alumni Parade

Friday, June 13, 2025 4:15 pm

Enjoy our photographers' take on the 2025 edition of the Alumni Parade, a "very Bates" tradition that's been going strong since 1914.

Six alumni honored at Reunion for contributions to Bates and the world

Thursday, June 12, 2025 3:42 pm

The awards were presented during the Annual Gathering of the Alumni Association on June 7 during Reunion.

Eight Bates graduates offered Fulbright Student awards for 2025–26

Friday, May 30, 2025 10:16 am

Seven young Bates College alumni, including five newly minted graduates, have been offered Fulbright Student awards for 2025–26. Bates has been honored as a Fulbright Top Producer 14 straight years.

Draft for social media post: Social post for Carmona family/to run Thursday Art: combo of Phyllis fresh art from last Thursday and vintage (2018) images of young Jose at the Commencement of his siblings Christopher and Alanis Carmona. Most Thursdays, Jose Carmona ’25 of Chicago walks a few blocks from campus to visit Carmen Thibodeau at her home. They don’t share blood, but she’s been his Lewiston grandmother the whole time he’s been at Bates. “Some of my friends know that she’s not my actual grandma,” Carmona says, but others assume it. “They’ll be like, ‘Oh, you’re going to Granny’s house today?” Even before Jose came to Bates, Carmen Thibodeau — along with her late husband Richard, who died in 2022 — has represented family to three of his siblings before him, Christopher Carmona ’18, Alanis Carmona ’18 and Carolina Carmona ’22. This weekend Thibodeau will be in the audience when Jose walks across the stage in front of Coram Library and officially becomes a graduate of Bates, and she couldn’t be prouder. Since 2014, when Christopher and Alanis arrived on campus as first years, Thibodeau has been guiding this tight knit group of siblings through their Bates experience, serving up lemonade, snacks and good advice. She’s taken them on trips to family favorites like Mac’s Grill in Auburn and the Fryeburg Fair, and other Maine highlights and offered steady, enduring support and love. Look for our full story about how this relationship started, and why it won’t end, in Bates News on Friday.

Four Bates siblings, their ‘Lewiston grandmother,’ and one last Commencement celebration

Friday, May 23, 2025 10:44 am

Since 2014, a succession of four Bates siblings from Chicago have been able to lean on Lewiston neighbor Carmen Thibodeau for rides, rest, and real connection.

97-year-old Ralph Sylvester, Bates Class of 1950, arrives at the Bobcat Den on Aug. 17, 2021, where he renewed a morning routine, having breakfast with Alan Kelley of Facility Services in the Bobcat Den, which reopened today at 8 a.m. after being closed since March 20, 2020, due to the pandemic. “The Den is where Ralph and I became friends,” said Kelley, who is the mechanical and electrical services manager for Facility Services. “You can see a lot of people come through the Den who you might not see on a regular basis on campus," Kelley added. "It’s great to say hi, how you doing, and fill your belly with a good meal to start your day.”

Bates receives $1.3 million bequest from a World War II vet and alumnus who fought for the underdog

Thursday, May 22, 2025 2:08 pm

The bequest from Ralph Sylvester '50, who died in 2023 at age 99 will fund two new endowed funds at Bates that create a legacy of access, opportunity, and community.

Bates Alumni in the News: April 11, 2025

Friday, April 11, 2025 10:45 am

This edition of recent Bates alumni mentions in the news media includes revisiting the legacy of a rebellious Episcopalian, shortlist honors for Elizabeth Strout’s newest novel, and an alumnus who grew up in rural poverty builds a billion-dollar financial firm.