Bates student honored as Newman Civic Fellow

Stories about "Harward Center for Community Partnerships"

Bates student honored as Newman Civic Fellow

Thursday, September 17, 2026 1:17 pm

Natalie Gersen ‘28 of Belmont, Mass., has been named a Newman Civic Fellow through Campus Compact, a national coalition of colleges and universities working to advance the public purposes of higher education.

And while we’re on the subject of weddings… Our next @batespurposefulwork summer internship spotlight series features Raegan White ’26 of Duxbury, Mass. Company and role: Bridal stylist assistant at @kleinfeldbridal Location: New York City Academic path: Rhetoric, film, and screen studies major A memorable summer moment: “One challenge I’ve encountered involved helping a bride who had a very limited budget, was getting married within just a few months, and was also pregnant. We maintained honest communication and prioritized her comfort and vision. In the end, she left with a dress she felt confident and beautiful in.” An interesting fact about my internship: “No bride is the same, and every appointment is a unique experience. At Kleinfeld, we meet brides from all walks of life. Many come in with insecurities or anxiety, and it’s our responsibility to create a welcoming space where they feel completely comfortable.” What I’ll bring back to Bates with me: “Rhetoric — the art of effective communication — is a skill I’ve come to appreciate on a much deeper level through my work at Kleinfeld. While I’ve studied rhetorical techniques in the classroom, this internship has shown me how essential they are in the real-world.” What purposeful work means to me: “This work is purposeful because a wedding is one of the most important days in a person’s life. The dress a bride chooses is often tied to her identity, her values, and how she wants to feel in that moment. Helping her feel seen, understood, and celebrated isn’t just retail — it’s emotional, human work.” Click the link in our bio to see our story diving deeper into White’s experience at Kleinfeld.

From physics research to bridal consultancy, Bobcats had an array of internships this summer

Thursday, September 11, 2025 12:35 pm

This summer, Batesies kept busy with a variety of research efforts and internships.

Harward Center wraps up 2024–25 year with grants, awards honoring community engagement

Friday, June 27, 2025 9:01 am

This spring, the Harward Center celebrated the strength of the college’s engagement with the Lewiston–Auburn community with a string of grants and awards.

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.

Double gold: Two Bates STEM standouts earn prestigious Goldwater Scholarships

Thursday, May 22, 2025 3:07 pm

Bates juniors Aleisha Martinez Sandoval and Mohammed Mohammed, who are both Bates STEM Scholars with a lifelong passion for science, have earned prestigious Goldwater Scholarships.

1. Yes, that is the course name. It is ECON/DCS 368 2. I'm working with Jacqueline Crucet in the Economic & Community Development Department. The relationship was set up by the Harward Center -- it is our second semester working together. Morgan Kinney introduced us and has been a point person to help this CEL project work two semesters in a row now. 3. The Harward Center is constantly working to set up these relationships. Jacqueline likes to work with students on these opportunities. Last semester she and I collaborated on a hackathon concerning the relationship between streetlights and crime -- I think she wanted to do another semester project after that one. 4. & 5. The data are administrative city records and census data. (Technically the census is a survey, but it is aggregated to the "block" level, which is a Census unit that roughly corresponds to a city block.) The admin data was collected by the city. It is information on each household's participation.

Bates students hack real-world problems, including lead poisoning, to help a downtown Lewiston neighborhood

Thursday, May 8, 2025 4:21 pm

With computers, community, and collaboration, recent Bates hackathons have tackled problems including exposure to lead paint in older Lewiston homes.

A visit to the Looking Ahead Clubhouse in Lewiston by the Gather Hear Tour by pianist Miki Sawada (seen at the piano). Looking Ahead is a program for adults with mental illness based on the Clubhouse Model of Rehabilitation. Jahan Baker-Wainwright ’25 (blue crewneck sweater), a biochemistry major from Cottage Grove, Wis., performed Beethoven’s Pathetique Sonata, op. 13, the third movement, on the piano. Assistant Professor of Music Zen Kuriyama (down coat) sang Franz Schubert’s “Der Doppelgänger” and “An die Musik,” accompanied by Miki Sawada on piano. Marrich Somridhivej ’26 (quilted pullover), a biology major from South Windsor, Conn., performed Amy Beach’s “Summer Dreams,” op. 47, no. 2 and 3, with Miki Sawada on the piano (four hand). Chiharu Naruse (glasses, black coat), Bates piano teacher, collaborative pianist, is seen at the picnic table and as a page-turner when the wind came up.

At a Lewiston clubhouse, a musical performance that’s ‘less about perfection, and more about connecting’

Friday, November 1, 2024 1:24 pm

Two Bates students and a newly appointed professor of music helped to bring the soothing beauty of music, through piano and voice, to an audience at the Looking Ahead Clubhouse, a vocational center in Lewiston for adults living with mental illness.

What It Took: Erin Reed ’08 on a journey of compassion, community, and loving Lewiston

Friday, December 8, 2023 8:44 am

In challenging times, Erin Reed '08 is resolute in doing the important and life-changing work as executive director of Lewiston's Trinity Jubilee Center. Here's what it takes.

Negro voting in Cardoza [i.e., Cardozo] High School in [Washington,] D.C. / [MST].SummaryPhotograph showing a young African American woman casting her ballot.Trikosko, Marion S, photographer. Negro voting in Cardoza i.e., Cardozo High School in Washington, D.C. / MST. Washington D.C, 1964. Nov. 3. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2003688167/.

Q&A: Navigating your ballot and what’s at stake in the 2022 midterms, with Jenna Dela Cruz Vendil ’06

Friday, November 4, 2022 10:46 am

Whether it’s your first time voting or you still think Dewey defeated Truman, you might have ballot questions.

Lewiston youngsters learn life lessons from Bates students — and the game of soccer

Thursday, September 1, 2022 12:55 pm

Youngsters in Lewiston are getting all sorts of life lessons — from leadership and resilience to mindfulness, empathy, and inclusivity — from Bates students, and from the game of soccer.