Senior Ellie Wolfe gives a thumbs-up to those assembled on the stage Sunday after she received her diploma during Bates College’s 2023 commencement exercises in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Bates College President Clayton Spencer is seen on a large screen Sunday as she addresses the crowd during Bates College’s 2023 commencement exercises in Lewiston. The event was livestreamed worldwide. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Bates College senior Ilana Zeilinger fans herself Sunday as she watches classmates file into the Bates College’s 2023 commencement exercises in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Shankar Vedantam receives his honorary degree Sunday from Professor Mary T. Rice-DeFosse during Bates College’s 2023 commencement exercises in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Mary T. Rice-DeFosse, the mace bearer, leads the procession out of the quad Sunday at the conclusion of Bates College’s 2023 commencement exercises in Lewiston. She is followed by outgoing President Clayton Spencer and commencement speaker Joseph Drew Lanham. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Rishi Sanjay Madnani delivers the senior address Sunday during Bates College’s 2023 commencement exercises in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Melissa Trotter came from Connecticut to cheer for her niece, Margaret Horvat, during Bates College’s 2023 commencement exercises in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Chrystian Brazao came with his family to cheer for his cousin, Myles Guerrier, as Guerrier walks with his class Sunday morning at the start of Bates College’s 2023 commencement exercises in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Bates College Seniors toss their mortarboards Sunday at the conclusion of Bates College’s 2023 commencement exercises in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Phyllis Graber Jensen, Bates College’s director of photography and video, takes a photograph Sunday of a student tapping the sun dial during Bates College’s 2023 commencement exercises in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Members of the audience have creative ways of showing their support Sunday for the graduates during Bates College’s 2023 commencement exercises in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Bates College seniors march toward their seats Sunday during Bates College’s 2023 commencement exercises in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

A Bates College senior gets a last look at herself Sunday before walking across the stage to receive her diploma during the college’s 2023 commencement exercises in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

A Bates College senior gets a last look at himself Sunday before walking across the stage to receive his diploma during the college’s 2023 commencement exercises in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

A Bates College senior gets a last look at himself Sunday before walking across the stage to receive his diploma during the college’s 2023 commencement exercises in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

A Bates College senior gets a last look at herself Sunday before walking across the stage to receive her diploma during the college’s 2023 commencement exercises in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Members of the audience have creative ways of showing their support Sunday for the graduates during Bates College’s 2023 commencement exercises in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

A Bates College senior speaks Sunday with friends as they march toward their seats during the college’s 2023 commencement exercises in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Bates College seniors seek out family members, friends and members of the faculty during the college’s 2023 commencement exercises in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

LEWISTON, May 28, 2023 – Tommy Elgarresta lies on the grass in the Bates College quad during Sunday’s 2023 Bates Commencement on the Lewiston campus. He came from Miami to watch his cousin graduate, but wasn’t interested in the speeches going on. His cousin, Brendan Cronin, from Cape Cod pets Willow, taking a nap as his owner was there to watch her neice graduate. Look inside for more photos and a story on the graduation.. (Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal) Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Joseph Drew Lanham delivers the commencement address Sunday during Bates College’s 2023 graduation ceremony in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Many in the crowd use their programs Sunday to shield themselves from the sun during Bates College’s 2023 commencement exercises in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Faculty members sit in the sun Sunday during Bates College’s 2023 commencement exercises in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Joseph Drew Lanham receives an honorary degree Sunday from Professor Mary T. Rice-DeFosse during Bates College’s 2023 commencement exercises in Lewiston. Lanham was the commencement speaker. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Rishi Sanjay Madnani delivers the senior address Sunday during Bates College’s 2023 commencement exercises in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal