Join us for this year’s Great Day to be a Bobcat on March 12, 2026. Show your support for the many programs and opportunities that define the Bates experience, and help us reach our goal of 2,026 donors in celebration of this year's graduating class.
The festivities start at noon ET, 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 for our annual giving day. Join thousands of other current and past families, alumni, and friends in supporting Bates on March 12 for Great Day to be a Bobcat!
Gifts to Families contribute to...
We’ve reached our goal of 2,026 donors and unlocked $100,000 in immediate-use funds for Bates.🎉
There are still 9 hours to go and to keep us moving, we have ANOTHER challenge available: When we reach 2,200 donors, another $25,000 will be added from an anonymous loyal Bobcat. Help us finish strong for Bates!
143 days ago by Lauren Bean
We’ve just hit 1,013 donors - that’s halfway to our goal of 2,026 and unlocking an additional $100,000 for Bates. There are still 17 hours to go, tons of class challenges in play, and the sky’s the limit for how the Bobcat community will show up for Bates. 🎉Let’s keep this momentum going for another record-breaking Great Day!🎉
143 days ago by Lauren Bean
The Great Day Livestream kicks off at 12pm ET on Thursday, March 12. Who do you want to thank you for your Great Day gift??
12:00 -12:40 pm
- President Garry W. Jenkins
- Olivia T. ’28, Student Philanthropy Ambassador
- Leah B. ’26, Senior Co-Chair
12:45 - 1:30 pm
- Eric Foushee P’22, P’26, VP for College Advancement
- Kristen Lainsbury, VP for Communications and Marketing
- Sarah Cameron, Senior Director of Alumni Engagement
1:35 - 2:20 pm:
- Marisela Flores Pineda ’24, Center for Purposeful Work
- Luke Allen ’22, Campus Life
- Abby Ryan ’21, Advancement
2:25 - 3:10 pm
- Erin Foster Zsiga, AVP and Dean of Students
- Molly Newton ’11, Sr. Assoc. Dean of Students
- Brenna Callahan ’15, Dir. of Health Services and Well-Being
3:15 - 4:00 pm
- Michael Rocque, Professor of Sociology and Department Chair
- Emma L. ’29
- John H. ’29
4:05 - 4:50 pm
- John Harvey ’09, Leadership Gift Officer
- Tyler Lussier, Leadership Gift Officer
- Ben Peck ’05, Associate College Librarian
- Paul Gastonguay ’89, Head Men’s Tennis Coach
4:55 - 5:40 pm
- Christine Schwartz, VP for Dining, Conferences, and Campus Events
- Kim Trauceniek, Sr. Assoc. Dean of Students
- Kirk Read, Professor of French and Francophone Studies
5:45 - 6:30 pm
- Zach R. '26 & Mohammad Z. '27, Co-Presidents of the Bates College Student Government
- Lauren C. ’26 & Kainda N. ’29, Student Philanthropy Ambassadors
6:30 - 7:00 pm
- Bates Bobcast with Aaron Morse (pre-recorded)
7:00 - 7:40 pm
- Darby Ray, Harward Center
- Tonya Bailey, Student Center for Belonging and Community
7:45 - 8:30 pm
- Dean Reese P’29, International Student Programs
- Hoi Ning Ngai, Purposeful Work
8:35 - 9:00 pm
Live a capella with the Crosstones and ManOps
Leaderboard 🙌
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