{"id":169651,"date":"2025-06-12T15:42:35","date_gmt":"2025-06-12T19:42:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/?p=169651"},"modified":"2025-06-16T15:55:14","modified_gmt":"2025-06-16T19:55:14","slug":"six-alumni-honored-at-reunion-for-contributions-to-bates-and-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/2025\/06\/12\/six-alumni-honored-at-reunion-for-contributions-to-bates-and-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"Six alumni honored at Reunion for contributions to Bates and the world"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On June 7 during Reunion Weekend, the Bates College Alumni Association honored six alumni for their outstanding contributions to the college and the wider world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awards were presented during the Annual Gathering of the Alumni Association, held in Merrill Gymnasium following the Alumni Parade, which was moved indoors due to rain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Reunion alumni take in President Garry W. Jenkins’ address during the Annual Gathering of the Alumni Association in Merrill Gymnasium on June 7, 2025. (Rene Roy for Bates College)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Presenting the awards were John Howard ’86, vice president of the Alumni Association, joined by Bates President Garry W. Jenkins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Annual Gathering also featured Jenkins’ Presidential Address, in which he thanked the Reunion alumni for the many and powerful ways they have stepped up to support Bates. “Your dedication is nothing short of astonishing,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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From left, Dean Bragonier \u201995, Nick Beati \u201920, Ann Clark Tucker \u201978, John Howard ’86, Garry W. Jenkins, Geraldine M. FitzGerald \u201975, Derek Anderson \u201985. (Rene Roy for Bates College)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

“We are so grateful for alumni support,” he added. “It makes an enormous difference. We stand on the shoulders of others. Giving back ensures future students enjoy the same transformative education that once changed your life.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Alumni Professional Recognition Award: Dean Bragonier \u201995<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Bragonier was recognized for his work as founder of NoticeAbility, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping students with dyslexia identify their unique strengths and build self-esteem. His work has had a significant positive impact on students with dyslexia around the world, exemplifying Bates values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dean Bragonier \u201995 receives the Alumni Professional Recognition Award from President Garry W. Jenkins. (Rene Roy for Bates College) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

His award citation noted<\/a>: “Dean\u2019s mission is deeply personal. As a student with dyslexia, he has shared that his passion for learning wasn\u2019t ignited until he came to Bates\u2014where his differences were embraced and his potential recognized. Through his leadership at NoticeAbility, Dean is now bringing that same ethos of understanding, support, and empowerment to students, families, and educators around the world.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bruce Stangle \u201970 Award for Distinguished Service to the Bates Community: Ann Clark Tucker \u201978<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Tucker was recognized for her extraordinary and long-standing volunteer leadership across the college, including with Advancement, Admission, and the Center for Purposeful Work, offering ongoing mentorship to Bates students and sharing advice from her career as a communications executive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ann Clark Tucker \u201978 receives the Bruce Stangle \u201970 Award for Distinguished Service to the Bates Community from President Garry W. Jenkins. (Rene Roy for Bates College)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Her award citation noted<\/a>: “During Short Term 2024, Ann returned to campus as a Practitioner-in-Residence with the Center for Purposeful Work, where she designed and taught a month-long course centered on the values of service and civic responsibility. She continues to mentor those students today, helping them prepare for lives of impact beyond Bates.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sesquicentennial Prize: Derek Anderson \u201985 <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Anderson was recognized for his significant publishing achievement, Improbable Voices: A History of the World Since 1450 Seen From 26 Unusual Perspectives<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This book explores the history of the world through the voices of 26 people whose stories have long gone unheard, celebrating diverse perspectives and highlighting the value of liberal arts. Anderson has made his life and career as a high school history teacher, librarian, and world traveler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Derek Anderson \u201985 receives the Sesquicentennial Prize from President Garry W. Jenkins. (Rene Roy for Bates College)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

His award citation noted<\/a>: “The book\u2019s creation connected dozens of librarians, historians, and archivists around the world, celebrating the essential roles these disciplines play in preserving and interpreting human history. It also pays homage to the influence of his Bates mentors, whose guidance inspired his passion for inquiry, storytelling, and thoughtful scholarship.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Distinguished Young Alumni Award: Nick Beati \u201920<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Beati was recognized for his volunteer service to Bates and mentoring Bates students. As a director with Savills North America, based in Boston, Beati has welcomed and mentored Bates interns through the Center for Purposeful Work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nick Beati \u201920 receives the Distinguished Young Alumni Award from President Garry W. Jenkins. (Rene Roy for Bates College)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

His award citation noted<\/a>: “Not only has he created professional opportunities for Bates students, but he has also provided thoughtful mentorship and guidance to help them navigate life after college. Nick\u2019s willingness to go above and beyond \u2014 whether by opening doors for students exploring professional options, hosting events, or simply being a reliable and thoughtful presence \u2014 has made him a standout among young alumni.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Helen A. Papaioanou \u201949 Distinguished Alumni Service Award: Geraldine M. FitzGerald \u201975<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

FitzGerald, a Bates trustee emerita, was honored for decades of distinguished and extensive service to Bates, including serving as co-chair of the $336 million Bates Campaign. She has served as president of the Alumni Association, remains an active Purposeful Work and Cheney Society volunteer, and co-chaired 1975’s Reunion Gift effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"award
Geraldine M. FitzGerald \u201975 receives the Helen A. Papaioanou \u201949 Distinguished Alumni Service Award from President Garry W. Jenkins. (Rene Roy for Bates College)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Her award citation noted<\/a>: “Few alumni have served Bates with as much devotion, vision, and warmth. Geri\u2019s thoughtfulness, grace, and preparation have left an indelible mark during this Reunion year. She has crafted individualized outreach, personally thanked every classmate, and successfully inspired major giving, always leading with kindness and conviction. Her leadership has brought her classmates closer to each other and to Bates “<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Alumni Community Service Award: Robin Waterman \u201985<\/h4>\n\n\n
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Robin Waterman \u201985 received the Alumni Community Service Award from the Bates Alumni Association.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Waterman, who was unable to attend the awards presentation at Reunion, was recognized for a career working with underserved communities worldwide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more than two decades, she developed community-based programs for low-income, culturally and linguistically diverse families in the greater Denver metro area, including 14 years as founding executive director of the Aurora Community Connection, fostering parent involvement, community leadership, and self-sufficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her award citation noted<\/a>: “Her efforts continue to bridge systemic gaps in health and education access, embodying Bates\u2019 core values of civic responsibility and ethical leadership. Whether supporting immigrant youth through the Village Exchange Center\u2019s college access programs in Aurora or living in solidarity with homeless immigrants in Houston, Robin\u2019s service is wholehearted and unwavering.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The awards were presented during the Annual Gathering of the Alumni Association on June 7 during Reunion.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":148,"featured_media":169671,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_hide_ai_chatbot":false,"_ai_chatbot_style":"","associated_faculty":[],"_Page_Specific_Css":"","_bates_restrict_mod":false,"_table_of_contents_display":false,"_table_of_contents_location":"","_table_of_contents_disableSticky":false,"_is_featured":false,"footnotes":"","_bates_seo_meta_description":"","_bates_seo_block_robots":false,"_bates_seo_sharing_image_id":169662,"_bates_seo_sharing_image_twitter_id":0,"_bates_seo_share_title":"","_bates_seo_canonical_overwrite":"","_bates_seo_twitter_template":""},"categories":[7,243,11011],"tags":[12387,7447],"class_list":["post-169651","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alumni","category-annual-events","category-awards","tag-reunion-2025","tag-reunion-weekend"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/169651","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/148"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=169651"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/169651\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":169707,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/169651\/revisions\/169707"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/169671"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=169651"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=169651"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=169651"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}