Meaningful impact

Batesies apply knowledge and skills to make a difference in their lives

Students, professors, staff, and alumni use a Bates framework to apply insights, expanded perspectives and compassionate intentions to meaningful collaborations in a globally-interdependent and culturally-diverse world.

Observe what's around you

"Learn to observe and observe to learn. See what you're seeing, think about what you're seeing, ask questions about it. On the journey itself you want to observe what's going on around you. And that's not something that young people automatically do. I think it is a learning process." — Bates economist Margaret Maurer-Fazio

Devote yourself

"It seems to me that when, in a few hundred years, people look back on our time, one of the very key things that they will judge us on is how well we did or did not deal with the transition [to sustainable resources.] So I can’t think of anything more important to devote my professional life to.” — Lee Lynd '79, winner of a $100,000 Lemelson-MIT Sustainability Award

Change the world

"You see people every day who are committed to their colleges or to a foundation or a non-government organization. A goal for me is to interact with people who have that sort of flight in life, who go beyond their own wealth and even their families to look after others and try to change the world." — Eduardo Crespo '04, financial analyst, Goldman Sachs

Seek many perspectives

"It is deeply rewarding to be in a room with 40 other people who are so engaged with Bates and who bring to the table many different perspectives and talents. Everyone encourages us to share our experiences and perspectives; it's a true extension of the Bates community." — Bates Trustee Kitty Northrop Friedman '95

Serve your community

"This is your invitation to come to the table and help write the next chapter of this country’s history. It is your time to realize the ideals on which the Rev. Orin B. Cheney founded this institution and to join the ranks of Bates alumni who have used their education to serve their communities and the wider world." — Maine State Sen. Peggy Rotundo, director of special initiatives for the Harward Center for Community Partnerships, speaking at the 2009 Honors Banquet

Help develop young people

"I wanted to provide a venue for learning and for experiencing some things that are essential to the development of young people, yet which they are otherwise not getting in academic courses." — Professor of German Dennis Sweet

Next: Bates Views

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