10th year of @batescollege.bsky.social Commencement. Never gets old.

Heart, humanity, curiosity, and community carried the Bates Class of 2026 into the future at Bates’ 160th Commencement. Read our full recap from a joyful, memorable morning on the Historic Quad.

Commencement 2026: Into the future with heart, humanity, and curiosity

The skies were changeable but the mood was resoundingly upbeat on Sunday,…

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NEWS: Rev. Rob Benson will join Bates as the college’s multifaith chaplain, effective Aug. 3, the college announced today. Benson currently serves as the lead pastor at Bar Harbor Congregational Church in Bar Harbor, Maine. 🔗: www.bates.edu/news/2026/05...

Rev. Rob Benson joins Bates as multifaith chaplain

Benson will join Bates as the college's multifaith chaplain, effective Aug. 3.

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NEWS: Victoria (Tori) Neason Wallace has been appointed vice president for enrollment and dean of admission and financial aid at Bates College, effective July 1, President Garry W. Jenkins has announced. www.bates.edu/news/2026/04...

Victoria Neason Wallace to join Bates as vice president for enrollment

Victoria (Tori) Neason Wallace has been appointed vice president for enrollment and…

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Anchored by a major $10 million gift from Jon W. Brayshaw ’90, P’25 and Jocelyn Stoddard Brayshaw ’88, P’25, Bates announces $45M project to update two key athletic facilities and construct a new fitness and well-being center to serve the entire campus community. 🔗: www.bates.edu/news/2026/03...

Congratulations to nine members of the faculty who have been promoted, including seven tenure awards. The promotions were recommended by the Faculty Personnel Committee and approved by the Bates College Board of Trustees. See our story to learn more: www.bates.edu/news/2026/02...

Bates announces tenure and promotion for nine faculty members

Nine members of the faculty have received promotions, including seven tenure awards, effective Feb. 6. The promotions were recommended by the Faculty Personnel Committee and approved by the Bates Coll...

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Bates has been recognized as a Top Producer of Fulbright Student awards for the 15th consecutive year. The achievement places Bates among an elite group of just 11 undergraduate liberal arts colleges to have achieved the recognition 15 years in a row. Learn more 🔗: www.bates.edu/news/2026/02...

Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy @adiamondstanic.bsky.social joins @npr.org's "Maine Calling" for a "Night Lights" holiday special, which celebrates the magic of light in the wintertime. Tune-in TODAY at 11 a.m., with a repeat at 8 p.m.! www.mainepublic.org/show/maine-c...

Winter Light

The magic of light in wintertime, from solstice to dark skies to holiday lights — plus a Maine Public Classical special program that celebrates light this season

mainepublic.org

Congratulations to Brian McGrory '84 on returning to the @bostonglobe.com as editor. McGrory previously served as Globe editor from 2012 until early 2023. #batesalumni

Brian McGrory to rejoin Boston Globe as editor - The Boston Globe

McGrory, currently the chair of Boston University’s journalism department, previously served as Globe editor from 2012 until early 2023.

bostonglobe.com

Today, Bates is proud to welcome and congratulate our inaugural cohort of QuestBridge Scholars! Your talent, intellect, and drive stood out among the 7,000 finalists. We can’t wait for you to join our vibrant campus, where you’ll learn and grow within a curious, close-knit, and caring community.

NESCAC champions! Field hockey makes history with 2-0 win over Wesleyan Recap and photos: gobatesbobcats.com/news/2025/11...

NESCAC champions! Field hockey makes history with 2-0 win over Wesleyan - Bates College

The Bates field hockey team recorded their third consecutive shutout and senior captain Brooke Moloney-Kolenberg scored the eventual game-winning goal as the Bobcats

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In case you missed it: On Tuesday, Sept. 30, Bates alumnus Marshall Hatch Jr. '10 was named to the 2025 TIME100 Next list, which highlights "the world's most influential rising stars." See below to find out why Hatch Jr. '10 made the list! #batesalumni #time100next

Marshall Hatch Jr. Is on the 2025 TIME100 Next

Find out why Marshall Hatch Jr. is on this year’s list

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Bates is proud to announce the launch of a new advising partnership with Matriculate, a national nonprofit that connects high-achieving, low-income high school students with near-peer mentors to support their path to college. Learn more: www.bates.edu/news/2025/09...

We are proud to share that Bates has been awarded a $1.1 million, four-year grant to extend its participation in the Kessler Scholars Collaborative. This generous support helps Bates deepen its steadfast commitment and holistic support for a diverse community of high-achieving first-gen students.

Ready to dance this summer? 💃 Bates Dance Festival Director Shoni Currier joins @mainepublic.org Classical’s "State of the Art" to talk about the festival and give a sneak preview of this season's Performance Series programming—just now getting underway. For tix 🎟️ visit batesdancefestival(dot)org

Sunday, June 29: Shoni Currier

The Bates Dance Festival is a global destination for dance right here in Maine. Its director Shoni Currier talks about the 2025 edition kicking off in July.

mainepublic.org

Professor of Rhetoric, Film, and Screen Studies Stephanie Kelley-Romano joined the @chronicle.com's "College Matters" podcast to discuss her Bates course on conspiracy theories—where students learn what fuels them, how they gain influence, and how to counter them. www.chronicle.com/podcast/coll...

Co-Director @angeladuckworth.bsky.social recently delivered the commencement address @batescollege.bsky.social, sharing how changing one’s environment can help people stick to their goals: "Successful people...rarely rely on inner fortitude to resist temptations." Watch it here: bit.ly/4lEjPKH

Angela Duckworth at Bates: Push those cell phones away

Angela Duckworth delivered a compelling, useful, and relevant message in her Bates College Commencement address on May 25, 2025, urging the audience to pursue “situation modification," which means "using physical distance to create psychological distance" — especially the physical distance of our cell phones from our selves. Situation modification has science behind it. "Psychologists like me have found that achieving what you want out of life has very little to do with forcing yourself to act in one way or another," Duckworth said. "Successful people...rarely rely on inner fortitude to resist temptations. Instead, they avoid them altogether." In other words, "successful strivers are exquisitely aware of how the situation shapes their behavior. And they deliberately design their situations in ways that make wise choices easier." “This is what mindfulness looks like in the digital age,” said Duckwork, who is a psychologist, leading voice in the study of human behavior, and author of the New York Times bestseller Grit. “Not willpower, but the wisdom to shape the situations that shape you.” 👉 Don't forget to hit the "Like" button and subscribe to our channel for the latest videos from Bates College! ➡️ http://bit.ly/2ein9e6 🔗 Learn more about Bates College: http://www.bates.edu/ 📚 Interested in applying? Visit: http://www.bates.edu/admission 🎓 Explore our academics: https://www.bates.edu/academics Be Social with Bates: 📷 Follow us on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/batescollege 🎵 Discover Bates on TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/@batescollege 📘 Connect with us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/batescollege 🐦 Join the conversation on X: http://www.twitter.com/batescollege 👔 Network with us on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/edu/bates-college-19917 🏆 Watch Bates Athletics: https://www.youtube.com/batessports About Bates College Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, is one of the nation's leading liberal arts colleges. It is a welcoming community whose members care deeply about the rigorous, challenging, and rewarding life of ideas and principles, and value their exchange and examination. Thanks for being part of the Bates College community.

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It’s not every day your debut book gets excerpted in @rollingstone.com. Science writer @laurapoppick.bsky.social ’10 puts her Bates geology degree to expert use in "Strata: Stories from Deep Time," a review of Earth’s 4.54-billion-year history, out July 15. ➡️ www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...

What an incredible celebration of Pride Month! 🎉 Our Out and Proudly Regional Events lit up six cities—Boston, NYC, DC, Philly, Denver, and San Fran—with the vibrant spirit of community and pride. Huge thanks to our NESCAC friends for partnering in making these unforgettable events happen! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Coming up TODAY at 11 a.m.! Tune in to Maine Calling to hear Associate Professor of Education Mara Tieken discussing post-secondary school options for Maine’s rural students and why they often feel limited in their options. Learn more ⬇️. Rebroadcast at 8 pm.

Rural Students: Options & Goals

What options do rural students have after high school, and how can they overcome obstacles to meeting their goals?

mainepublic.org

In case you missed it: @theguardian.com named Angela Duckworth's Bates Commencement address one of the best graduation speeches of 2025. Duckworth's advice to grads? Put your phone in the other room. See the full article 🔗: www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

Now on view at the Bates Museum of Art: Ralph Steadman: And Another Thing. Known for his revolutionary collaborations with gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson, Steadman has spent the last six decades skewering politics, culture, and literature with his unmistakable and visceral style.

‘Ralph Steadman: And Another Thing’ showcases 60 years of the artist’s uncanny, unique perspective

The Bates College Museum of Art exhibition offers a visual adventure through the long career of the artist and illustrator, with objects that deftly capture Steadman’s artistic practice.

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BIG news from Bates athletics! The inaugural class of the Bates Athletics Hall of Fame has just been announced. See their post below to meet our first inductees! #HallofFame #GoBates

Bates College Athletics@gobatesbobcats.bsky.social · last yr.

Bates athletics announces inaugural Hall of Fame class! Read all about these amazing Bobcats: gobatesbobcats.com/news/2025/6/... #whyd3

Bates announces seven new Fulbright Student awards for 2025-26! Of this year's seven Fulbright offers, six were made to newly minted graduates of the Bates Class of 2025. Bates has been recognized as a Top Producer of Fulbright Student awards for 14 straight years. 🔗 www.bates.edu/news/2025/05...

For the first time, two Bates students — Aleisha Martinez Sandoval ’26 of Mexico City and Mohammed Mohammed ’26 of Iowa City, Iowa — have earned Goldwater scholarships in the same year. Read more about our “double gold” scholars and their lifelong passion for science:

Double gold: Two Bates STEM standouts earn prestigious Goldwater Scholarships

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.

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Chances are you’re reading this on your phone 📱. During her Commencement address, psychologist and "Grit" author Angela Duckworth shared advice with the Class of 2025 on how to use “situation modification” to take control of our phone use and reclaim our attention with greater intention.

12 tips to shape your surroundings, and your life, from Bates Commencement speaker Angela Duckworth

Watch Duckworth's Commencement address and check out these 12 tips for taking control of your phone — and your life.

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One week ago today 🥺 Such a magical Commencement weekend. A fitting marker to commemorate the years we’ve spent together. Class of 2025, know you’ll always have a home here at Bates. (David Ernst/Bates College) #batescollege #commencement #bates2025

For a close-up look at Commencement 2025, explore our Picture Story—captured through the lens of Bates photographer Phyllis Graber Jensen and the words of this year’s speakers and honorees. #batescollege #commencement2025 #picturestory

Commencement 2025 by Bates College on Exposure

From Commencement speaker Angela Duckworth’s striking call to “shape your situation before it shapes you” to President Garry W. Jenkins’ charge to lead lives of purpose and be staunch defenders of hig...

picturestories.bates.edu

Congratulations again to the unforgettable Bates Class of 2025! We hope you enjoy a few scenes from Sunday’s Commencement ceremony. Relive, or re-watch, the full experience, now available on the Bates YouTube channel ⬇️: youtu.be/QGD0N81CRa4?... Seniors, we miss you already!

Tips on how to be mindful in our digital age — move those cell phones out of sight! — highlighted “Grit” author Angela Duckworth’s Bates Commencement address today. Being successful isn’t about willpower “but the wisdom to shape the situations that shape you.” www.bates.edu/news/2025/05...

You can shape your situation before it shapes you, Bates grads told at 159th Commencement

Bates Commencement speaker Angela Duckworth, author of "Grit," told the seniors to embrace “situation modification” — change your physical environment, especially your phone's proximity, to protect yo...

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