{"id":173624,"date":"2026-06-25T07:54:15","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T11:54:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/?p=173624"},"modified":"2026-06-25T14:52:09","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T18:52:09","slug":"slideshow-this-month-at-bates-71","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/2026\/06\/25\/slideshow-this-month-at-bates-71\/","title":{"rendered":"Slideshow: This Month at Bates"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Unforgettable moments flooded May and June at Bates as the academic year closed. But our hearts were open. Revisit just a few of the experiences of faculty, students, staff \u2014 and alumni and parents \u2014 in this concluding edition of This Month at Bates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aspirations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Bates
Theophil Syslo\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Bates welcomes a group of Lewiston eighth graders for the college\u2019s Aspiration Day in May. Each year, a series of Aspiration Days aims to introduce the students to potential post-high school pathways, including college, career, and trade opportunities. Bates\u2019 Aspirations Club organizes the visits and additional mentorship efforts in the community, in conjunction with the Harward Center for Community Partnerships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sixteen Fulbrighters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"2026
Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This spring, Bates received an abundance of Fulbright Student international exchange awards, and 16 recent Bates alumni will soon set off for destinations around the world. Celebrating the good news in May (from left) are Fulbright Student awardees from the Class of 2026 Katie Heumann, Aiman Hasan, Jacqueline Coraci, Charles \u201cLee\u201d Anderson, Wilson Smith, Ava Elghanayan, Lucy Sterba, Evelyn Marchand, Sydney Wilmot, Ganga Corsaro, Kyra Chen Lie Friederich, Luciana Zaiet, and Blessing Ajayi. At front is Director of National Fellowships and Lecturer in English Robert Strong. Three of this year\u2019s Fulbright awardees Maple Buescher \u201925, Eileen Dockery \u201926, and Alexander Duchin \u201926, are not pictured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Clayton Unveiling<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\"Two
Rene Roy for Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

In May, Bates President Garry W. Jenkins, at left, and Mike Bonney \u201980 unveil a portrait of Clayton Spencer, Jenkins\u2019 predecessor and the eighth president of Bates College, during a ceremony in Bonney Science Center. The portrait, by Massachusetts-based artist Mary Minifie, hangs in Bonney\u2019s first-floor Zhang Living Room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Softball\u2019s Golden Anniversary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"A
Rene Roy for Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In Commons\u2019 Fireplace Lounge on May 2, Bates softball players and coaches, past and present, gather for the program’s 50th anniversary celebration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Exiting Through the Gift Shop<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"The
Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

From left, Caroline McCarthy \u201926, Jacobo Garces-Ramirez \u201926, and Rosina Makwabe \u201926 run a pop-up gift shop in the Olin Arts Center Lobby on May 19. The gift shop was the culmination of the Short Term course \u201cExit Through the Gift Shop,\u201d taught by Visiting Assistant Professor of Art and Visual Culture Erin Nolan, during which students designed and built a selection of products based on student artwork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Row On<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Five
Courtesy of Wilf Le Brocq<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Led by coxswain Sara Maquera \u201928 of Glenview, Ill., the men’s varsity four races in the Marlow Regatta at Dorney Lake, Eton, England, as they prepare for the Royal Henley Regatta, the first time the Bates rowing program has traveled \u201cacross the pond\u201d to compete since 2009. From left to right are Maquera, John Cleary \u201928, Bryce Ahn \u201929, Thomas Pacinda \u201928, and Kelly McKaige \u201926.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Home Win<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Bates
Theophil Syslo\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Men\u2019s lacrosse players huddle during a May 8 NCAA tournament game against SUNY Cortland, which they won 17-9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Celebrating Theses, Together<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Three
Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

From left, Class of 2026 graduates and best friends since the first week at Bates, Kayleigh Flaherty, Lauren Cockrill, and Mallory Johnson celebrate their theses bindings together on May 12. Their majors were, respectively, East Asian studies and biology, biochemistry, and sociology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Breaking Ground for Stoddard<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"A
Rene Roy for Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Bates President Garry W. Jenkins, at center, led the May 1 groundbreaking ceremony for the Stoddard Fitness and Well-Being Center, slated to open in late 2027. Jenkins was joined by many Bates community members, including Jon W. Brayshaw \u201990, P\u201925 and Jocelyn Stoddard Brayshaw \u201988, P\u201925, whose $10 million gift was instrumental in bringing this much-anticipated project to fruition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Glad to Be a Grad<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"A
Avery Lehman \u201925 for Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Aydan Gedeon-Hope \u201926, second from right, celebrates his graduation during the Bates Senior Student-Athlete Reception in May. Gedeon-Hope was a multi-sport Bobcat \u2014 a sprinter on the track and field team and a basketball player.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Illuminating Coram<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"A
Phylis Graber Jensen\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In Coram Library\u2019s IMStudios in May, Eileen Dockery \u201926 installs lanterns for her senior thesis exhibition, \u201cBlueprints of Future Memories.\u201d The immersive lantern installation was the culmination of an independent study in cyanotype printmaking that explored memory and photography connected to Dockery\u2019s recollections of Vietnam, where she lived as a young girl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Lindos Earns NCAA Honors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"5\"
Courtesy of Anthony Brett Schreck-ABSPhoto<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Alisandra Lindos \u201929 of Westbrook, Maine, competes in the triple jump during the NCAA Championships in La Crosse, Wis., in May. Lindos took home 15th place in the event, earning second team All-America honors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hello Free Laundry<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Students
Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

From left, Aleisha Martinez Sandoval \u201926, Trinity Monstwillo \u201926, Mohammad Zayd \u201927, and Zachariah Richards \u201926 gather in May to celebrate the advent of free laundry for all Bates students, a change slated for Fall 2026. The four campaigned for the cause throughout their time at Bates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hot Off the Press<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\"Press
Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Drafts of the newly redesigned Bates Magazine<\/em> sit ready for proofing at Penmor Lithographers, a Lewiston printing company and longtime partner of Bates Communications and Marketing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Employee Enrichment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Employee
Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Leana Am\u00e1ez, left, vice president for equity and inclusion, chats with Dana Bosse, talent acquisition specialist, during the Front Porch Perk-Up, an event hosted by Human Resources as part of Bates\u2019 June Employee Enrichment Week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Scratch \u2019Em Cats<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Bates
Sammy Weidenthal \u201927 for Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On May 5, Bates athletes, coaches, and staff gather in Merrill Gymnasium for the 2026 CATSBYS, Bates Athletics\u2019 annual celebration of the year\u2019s standout athletic performances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Exhibition Loading…<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Installation
Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On June 10, Kenny Rosen installs frames in the Bates Museum of Art ahead of the opening of Phyllis Graber Jensen: Pictures Stories<\/em>. The exhibition, on display until Sept. 19, chronicles the prolific work of Graber Jensen, the college\u2019s longtime director of photography and video, across more than 50 years, including the 31 she has spent at Bates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Golf Championship<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"The
Schuyler Meyer for Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Emma Lavallee \u201929 of Chestnut Hill, Mass., competes at the NESCAC Championships in May in Williamstown, Mass. Lavallee turned in the best hole of the tournament for the Bobcats, eagling the par-5 18th hole on Sunday, with the Bobcats ultimately finishing 8th overall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thesis Joy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"A
Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Enathe Muhawenimana \u201926, center, who double majored in biochemistry and French and Francophone studies, poses with friends after binding her two theses. From left, there\u2019s Deborah Hirwa Asiimwe \u201928; Ornella Nibasumba, who works in Commons; Enathe; Addy Stephane Ntwali, a first-year student at Boston College; and Solomon Kayobotsi \u201929.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Champions Again<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"A
Courtesy of Stockton Photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Greta Oberdiek \u201928 of Merion Station, Penn., exalts after the women\u2019s rowing team secures their eighth NESCAC title at the National Invitational Rowing Championship on May 10 in Worcester, Mass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SCBC Celebration<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"The
Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Bates President Garry W. Jenkins, standing at right, and his husband Jon J. Lee greet Bates community members during the Student Center for Belonging and Community Senior Celebration Dinner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Preparing the Historic Quad<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Facility
Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In the days before Bates\u2019 160th Commencement in May, Facility Services set up chairs on the Historic Quad facing Coram Library. It\u2019s a quiet scene, but soon the Quad would be bustling with soon-to-be-grads, their family and friends, and Bates and Lewiston community members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2018Be You, Bravely\u2019<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Baccalaureate
Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On May 30, Professor of Rhetoric, Film, and Screen Studies Stephanie Kelley-Romano gives the Baccalaureate Address to the Class of 2026. Candidly sharing her own struggle with, then recovery from, substance abuse as a student, Kelley-Romano offered poignant advice about being oneself\u2019s and persevering through life\u2019s low points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Doggedly in Search of Diplomas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Commencement
Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A dog sporting a Bates bandana strolls on campus ahead of the 160th Commencement on Sunday, May 31.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And They\u2019re Off<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Moments
Theophil Syslo\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In one of their final group activities before becoming alumni, graduating seniors from the Class of 2026 gather on Garcelon Field for their senior photo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Commencement Festivities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"People
Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Bates\u2019 160th Commencement speaker Deborah Harkness, center, prepares to process into the ceremony on Alumni Walk, with Bates President Garry W. Jenkins at her right. In her Commencement address, Harkness, professor emerita of history at the University of Southern California and bestselling author of the All Souls<\/em> series, used the pursuit of alchemy as a metaphor for striving to achieve one\u2019s \u201cgreat work,\u201d even in difficult circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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They Did It!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"A
Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Issac Nimako \u201926, a politics and studio art double major, cheers while crossing the Coram Library stage at Commencement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The New Maine MILL<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Tristan
Theophil Syslo\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Tristan Seavey \u201926, left, an intern at Lewiston\u2019s Maine Museum of Innovation, Labor, and Learning (Maine MILL), and Maine MILL Executive Director Rachel Ferrante \u201910 walk around the museum\u2019s new building. The larger space with enhanced facilities for education, exhibitions, and community-building opens to the public on June 27.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Delicious Arrangements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"A
Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Bates community members enjoy snacks during \u201cThe Delicious World of Charcuterie,\u201d a course on arranging charcuterie boards offered to staff during Employee Enrichment Week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Jenkins On the Court<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"A
Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Bates President Garry W. Jenkins enjoys a game of pickleball in Merrill Gymnasium during Bates\u2019 Enrichment Week. After that morning\u2019s annual 5K was canceled due to poor weather conditions, Bates pivoted to a Community Movement Hour in Merrill including cornhole, ladder golf, a cardio dance session, and boot camp exercises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Together Again<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Smiling
Rene Roy for Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Bates Reunion brought together Batesies present and past \u2014 and, considering their children who tagged along, maybe even future \u2014 for a weekend of reminiscing and building new memories together. Weekend activities included a lobster bake, a 5K, and visits to sites around campus and Lewiston.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Unforgettable moments populated May and June at Bates as the academic year closed. Revisit a few of the experiences of faculty, students, staff \u2014 and alumni and parents \u2014 in this concluding edition of This Month at Bates.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":91,"featured_media":173704,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_hide_ai_chatbot":false,"_ai_chatbot_style":"","associated_faculty":["erin-h-nolan","stephanie-kelley-romano","garry-w-jenkins"],"_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":0,"_bates_seo_sharing_image_twitter_id":0,"_bates_seo_share_title":"","_bates_seo_canonical_overwrite":"","_bates_seo_twitter_template":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-173624","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-batesnews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/173624","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\/91"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=173624"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/173624\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":173756,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/173624\/revisions\/173756"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/173704"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=173624"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=173624"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=173624"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}