Baccalaureate is a gathering of graduating seniors and their families and friends to celebrate the journey through Bates and beyond. The service is planned by students and it includes stories, poetry, dance, a cappella, a senior band, and blessings. It incorporates many voices, perspectives and worldviews in the thanksgiving and celebration.

Baccalaureate 2021 is a collection of recorded performances, stories, and reflections that can be viewed below. Thank you to all of the students, parents, and staff who created this moving and memorable celebration of the talents and accomplishments of the class of 2021.

Baccalaureate Program

Full Baccalaureate Video

Prelude

Original music by Ian Robertson

Welcome and Introduction

Hannah McKenzie and Matt Suslovic, Baccalaureate Coordinators

Invocation

Rev. Dr. Brittany Longsdorf, Multifaith Chaplain
Rev. Dr. Raymond Clothier, Associate Multifaith Chaplain

Acknowledgement of Loved Ones Not Present

Joan Buse

An Offering of Poetry

Mamta Saraogi

An Offering of Song: “Dreams”

Performed by: Kellie Allen, Esme Goldfinger, Billie Grummer, Joseph Inger, Juliana Martino, Anaïs Ranque, Nicole N. Recto, Ian Robertson, Ben Seaman, and Will Zimmerman

An Offering of Dance

Choreography: Ellie Friends and Erick Gredonia
Performed by: Natalie Brewer, Helen Carr, Dan Colombo, Rowan Cutler,
Sofia Esquibies, Ellie Friends , Erick Gredonia, Andrew Murdock, Ivy Nguyen,
Dawrin Silfa, Ellie Vance, and Sarah Wood

Vignettes

Short stories and reflections from the class of 2021 about their time at Bates

Introduction to Vignettes by Anthony Ochoa

Naythan Delgado

Carolyn Snow

Joselyn Jaramillo

An Offering of Music: “Meet Back Here”

Original Music Written and Performed by: Izzy Eichenbaum (vocals, lyrics), Thaddeus Gunther (piano), Rex Hirschhorn (mandolin), Samuel Melcher (bass), Anaïs Ranque (lyrics, vocals), and Ian Robertson (drums, guitar, lyrics, sound mixing)

Introduction of Keynote Speaker

Sarah Herde

Baccalaureate Address

Hoi Ning Ngai, Associate Director, Employer Engagement and Business Advising, Purposeful Work; Interim Associate Dean, Intercultural Education

Thank You

Hannah McKenzie and Matt Suslovic, Baccalaureate Coordinators

An Offering of Music: “Suo Gân”

Performed by: Muskan Verma and Sofía Edgar ’23

Blessings from Loved Ones

LaTronya Fields, Mary Ellen Friends, Sandy Gredonia, and Peyton Robertson

Interfaith Blessing

Marisol Cortez, Molly Goldberg, Armaan Mecca, Volney Spalding and Alya Yousuf

Postlude

Baccalaureate Acknowledgements

Baccalaureate Planning Committee

Ellie Friends
Molly Goldberg
Erick Gredonia
Sarah Herde
Hannah McKenzie
Anthony Ochoa
Nicole N. Recto
Ian Robertson
Matt Suslovic

Baccalaureate Student Speakers and Performers

Kellie Allen
Natalie Brewer
Helen Carr
Dan Colombo
Marisol Cortez
Rowan Cutler
Naythan Delgado
Sofía Edgar ’23
Izzy Eichenbaum
Sofia Esquibies
Ellie Friends
Molly Goldberg
Esme Goldfinger
Erick Gredonia
Billy Grummer
Thaddeus Gunther
Sarah Herde
Rex Hirschhorn
Joseph Inger
Joselyn Jaramillo
Juliana Martino
Armaan Mecca
Samuel Melcher
Andrew Murdock
Ivy Nguyen
Anthony Ochoa
Anaïs Ranque
Nicole N. Recto
Ian Robertson
Ben Seaman
Dawrin Silfa
Carolyn Snow
Ellie Vance
Muskan Verma
Sarah Wood
Alya Yousuf
Will Zimmerman

Videography

ARKS Productions
Robby Sheils ’23
Ollie Penner ’22

Music Credits

(In order of appearance during the service)

“Untitled” by Ian Robertson

“Dreams” Adapted from Fleetwood Mac, Arranged by Kathryn Ziegner

“Botanz” by Tommy Sheils

Meet Back Here” by: Izzy Eichenbaum, Thaddeus Gunther, Rex Hirschhorn, Samuel Melcher, Anaïs Ranque, and Ian Robertson

“Suo Gân” by Unknown Artist

“You Are Perfect Being” by Siddhartha Corsus

Special Thanks

We thank all who graciously worked to make this Baccalaurate Service possible! We thank the Baccalaureate Planning Committee, our many talented student speakers and performers, authors of our parent and guardian reflections, the many parents who submitted photos with their student, our student videographers, ARK Productions, President Spencer, Hoi Ning Ngai, Bates Communication Office, Conferences and Campus Events, and all the members of the Class of 2021 who have contributed in thought and care to the planning of this service.

We thank you all for joining us to share in this celebration.
Congratulations to the Class of 2021!