2024 kept us on our toes, and our best-performing Instagram and Facebook posts from the year reflect that.
The top posts reflect unusual natural phenomena, from the glory of the northern lights to the aftermath of an April snowstorm, while others highlight historic celebrations, including President Garry W. Jenkins’ inauguration and Commencement for the Class of 2024.
Of course, shots of fall foliage made significant inroads, and Bates folks also embraced opportunities to remember a beloved professor, reminisce about residence halls, and enjoy snowy portraits of campus.
In 2024, Bates made 902 posts across Instagram and Facebook, which together generated 4.7 million impressions and 254,990 engagements, including Instagram stories.
Below you’ll find our top 10 Instagram and Facebook posts of the year, ranked by the number of engagements they received. Enjoy what our online community liked, commented upon, and shared the most:
Top 10 Instagram posts
10. An inaugural moment
In May 2024, Bates welcomed its ninth president with the inauguration of President Garry W. Jenkins. He promised to lead Bates “with humility and transparency, with tenacity and enthusiasm, and, of course, with ardor and devotion.”
Engagements: 1,950
Reach: 8,630
9. Strolling through Candyland
Taken on a bright October morning, this series of photos captured the Historic Quad at the peak of foliage season. The caption shares a whimsical quote from Isabelle Larson ’25 of East Aurora, N.Y. “It’s sort of like Candyland,” she said, in reference to the signature blazing colors of the Bates campus in fall.
Engagements: 1,950
Reach: 11,540
8. A Commencement to celebrate
In May, the remarkable and resilient Class of 2024, many of whom began their undergraduate careers in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, graduated. Friends and family gathered to share in celebrations and pose for photos commemorating students’ achievements. President Garry W. Jenkins also celebrated his first commencement as president over on his very active Instagram account, @presgarryjenkins.
Engagements: 2,030
Reach: 8,980
7. What is Bates?
In January, Bates was featured on Jeopardy! in a clue, which read “Bates, Beal & Bowdoin are colleges in this state which does not begin with a B.” Community members flocked to the comments of our post to ask “What is Maine?” and express excitement about Bates’ cameo on the show.
Engagements: 2,120
Reach: 16,150
6. Bobcat dorm, transformed
In this reel, Samantha Simmons ’24 shared a look at her cozy senior year single dorm, before and after decorations. In the comments section, Bates alumni reminisced on their first-year dorms and chatted with current students, sharing memories of one-time residences such as Hedge Hall and Roger Williams Hall.
Engagements: 2,140
Reach: 70,000
5. Bird’s-eye view
Fall may come each year, but as the enthralled commenters on this post noted, its beauty is never lost on the Bates community. This aerial drone footage of Bates features a gorgeous pan of fall foliage, morning mist, and some of the oldest buildings on campus.
Engagements: 2,200
Reach: 17,000
4. Northern lights, puddle bright
In October, a wonderfully clear display of the often-elusive northern lights stretched over campus as a severe geomagnetic storm across North America brought the aurora borealis to Bates. Phyllis Graber Jensen captured the lights in full display, with their bright hues shining vividly over Lake Andrews.
Engagement: 2,260
Reach: 16,460
3. Some winter gratitude
White winters would be “snow” fun without the dedicated staff at Facilities Services who work to keep our campus safe. In late January, Bates celebrated the snowy weather while highlighting the hard work of Facilities Services in keeping the campus paths clear and accessible.
Engagements: 2,570
Reach: 11,890
2. Characters on campus
Classmates Charles Grosvenor ’74 and Norton Virgien ’74 served as producers and directors of the beloved animated The Land Before Time and Rugrats franchises, respectively. When they returned to campus for their 50th Reunion, Bates joined the celebration with a fun post.
The post features this giddy photo illustration that the classmates had created for Bates Magazine years ago of their respective shows’ characters cavorting in front of the Class of 1929 Gate.
In the comments section, users were excited to learn about the connection between Bates and a couple of their favorite childhood shows.
Engagements: 2,820
Reach: 13,890
1. A safe space, a sweet treat
After learning about Bates’ efforts to support the community in the wake of a natural disaster, users poured into our Instagram comment section to celebrate the generous Bobcat spirit.
Following a major April snowstorm, Bates opened Alumni Gym and Commons to house and feed some of the 1,000 utility crews who had traveled to the area to help restore power lost during the storm. Staff from Facilities Services and Dining, Conferences, and Campus Events collaborated to set up 75 beds for the crews in the gym — with special Bates chocolates resting on each pillow as thank-yous.
Engagements: 3,490
Reach: 22,470
Top Facebook Posts
10. Fall foliage footage
The same aerial video of fall foliage that found such success on Instagram was a hit on Facebook as well, portraying an undeniably beautiful misty fall morning on campus.
Engagements: 231
Reach: 3,320
9. Set in ivy stone
A Bates tradition dating to the 1800s continues to resonate with the Bates community. This post profiled Amelia Hawkins ’24 of Sun Valley, Idaho, who designed the 2024 ivy stone and helped install it. The story also featured Bates mason Ron Tardif, who praised Hawkins’ natural skill, calling her “mason material.”
Engagements: 232
Reach: 20,280
8. Aurora borealis, again
The same photos of the aurora borealis shared on Instagram were also popular on Facebook, prompting Bates alumni in the comments to share their memories of the northern lights from their time at Bates in the 1960s.
Engagements: 243
Reach: 4,470
7. Remembering George Antony Ruff
Alumni responded to the passing of George Ruff, the Charles A. Dana Professor Emeritus of Physics. As a scientist, he was renowned for his expertise in atomic and laser physics, including research on ultracold atoms in magneto-optical traps. As a beloved teacher, he was celebrated for his generosity to students.
Engagements: 245
Reach: 6,070
6. Staring at the sun
Students, faculty, and staff congregated around campus, clad in eclipse glasses, to watch the rare solar eclipse rise over Bates.
Engagements: 259
Reach: 6,640
5. Birthday blizzard
When is a snowstorm more than a snowstorm? When it’s a spring snowstorm!
Photographer Phyllis Graber Jensen captured the celebration of Amelia Wallis’ 22nd birthday amidst a storm that blanketed campus with nearly a foot of snow. With the Historic Quad as their playground, Wallis ’24, of Norwich, Vt., and her friends built a snow fort from plow piles and crafted a snow horse, where Wallis took her seat of honor. “It’s an amazing day to celebrate with friends,” she said.
Engagements: 266
Reach: 7,009
4. A top Fulbright producer, again
Each year, Bates alumni, parents, and friends respond with pride to the announcement that Bates is, once-again, a Top Producer of Fulbright Student awards. This was Bates’ 13th consecutive year as a Top Producer. “Bates’ tradition of Fulbright success reflects our commitment to academic excellence and developing bold leaders for tomorrow,” said President Garry W. Jenkins.
Engagements: 291
Reach: 7,830
3. Moments in paradise
Another ever-popular foliage post, this gallery of photos features students among trees on the Quad, enjoying the bright colors in late October.
Engagements: 323
Reach: 5,240
2. Basketball in the Sweet 16
For the third time in program history, the women’s basketball advanced to the NCAA tournament’s Sweet 16 in 2024, and members of the community lended their enthusiasm and support on Facebook.
Engagements: 345
Reach: 15,890
1. Bates on Jeopardy
You can’t plan to be popular, and you can’t plan a No. 1 social medial post. As on Instagram, the Jeopardy! clue that referenced Bates reverberated among the Bates audience on Facebook, with alumni, parents, and friends, flocking to the comments to ask and answer, “What is Maine?”
Engagements: 524
Reach: 9,670
Categories Creativity
