Help us reach our goal of 1,855 donors by March 13

Join us for this year’s Great Day to be a Bobcat on March 13, 2025, our annual giving day when we celebrate all that is great about Bates. Let’s show our Bobcat pride by reaching 1,855 donors in celebration of the year of the college’s founding!

We’ll be bringing Bates to you starting at noon EDT, with our Great Day to be a Bobcat Livestream. Tune in for this Great Day tradition featuring students, campus celebrities, President Jenkins, and – of course! – the Bobcat.

You can make this a GREAT DAY by making your best gift to Bates. Give early, or join thousands of other alumni, families, and friends in supporting Bates on March 13 for Great Day to be a Bobcat!

Make your Great Day gift!
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JOIN THE CELEBRATION!

  • Make your Great Day gift in under 2 minutes before or on March 13.
  • Set a calendar reminder for the Great Day livestream starting at noon on March 13. More information about the livestream schedule will be posted as available.
  • Wear Bates gear and post your photos and stories on Instagram, Facebook, and X using #BatesGreatDay. Please tag us to get re-posted. 
  • Encourage your fellow Bobcats to participate! You can sign up to be a Great Day advocate. 

Livestream Schedule

  • 12:00 -12:45 pm
    • Christine Schwartz, Associate Vice President for Dining, Conferences and Campus Events
    • Kim Trauceniek, Senior Associate Dean of Students
  • 12:55 – 1:40 pm
    • Adrienne Shibles ’91, P’26, Associate Director of Athletics 
    • Jon Furbush ’05, Lecturer in Physical Education and Head Coach of Men’s Basketball
    • Alison Leonard ’10, Assistant Men’s & Women’s Cross Country Coach
    • Kelly McManus ’12, Assistant Field Hockey Coach / Interim Director of Women’s Golf 
  • 1:45 – 2:30 pm
    • Michael Rocque, Professor of Sociology and Department Chair 
    • Michael Milliken, Manager of Community Wellness and Coordinator of Club Sports
  • 2:35 – 3:05 pm
    • Garry W. Jenkins, President 
    • Kristen A. Lainsbury, Vice President for Communications and Marketing
  • 3:10 – 3:55 pm
    • Darby K. Ray, Director of Harward Center for Community Partnerships and Donald W. and Ann M. Harward Professor of Civic Engagement 
    • Tonya Bailey-Curry LMSW-cc, Associate Dean and Director of the Student Center for Belonging and Community
  • 4:00 – 4:45 pm
    • Stephanie Kelley-Romano, Professor of Rhetoric, Film, and Screen Studies, Department Chair
    • Students (TBD)
  • 4:55 – 5:40 pm —The Bates Bobcast with:
    • Aaron Morse, Associate Athletic Communications Director
  • 5:45 – 6:30 pm
    • Audrey H. Burns ’17, Associate Director of Financial Aid
    • Jay Burns P’17, P’19, Senior Editorial Director & Editor of Bates Magazine 
  • 6:35 – 7:05 pm —Well-Being @ Bates Panel with:
    • Brenna Callahan ’15, Director of Health Services and Student Wellbeing
    • Lily Miller ‘25
    • Sergio Beltran ‘26
    • Linny Jimenez Tadeo ‘27
  • 7:15 – 7:50 pm — Advancement Staff – TBD
  • 7:55 – 8:40 pm
    • James Reese P’29, Associate Dean of Students for International Student Programs
    • Casey Andersen ’12, Gift Planning Officer – Manager of 50th Reunion Giving
  • 8:45 – 8:55 pm — Live a capella with Take Note

Show your Bobcat Pride on social media posts using Bates-themed Stickers!

Try out our new Bates-themed GIFs!

When creating your posts, search “Bates College” or “Bates GreatDay” in the GIPHY search.

Stickers.
Stickers.

If you use a Bates GIF in your story, tag @Bates.Alumni for a chance to be re-posted!

Why is Bates Great?

Great Day 2023

Great Day livestream table.

Photos of Great Day past!

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