10%

'Share the Love'

It’s quintessential Bates as the college community shows the power of love in supporting students and their academic achievements at Mount David Summit

By Bates College

April 12^th, 2024

Happy tradition

Adelle Welch ’25 of Livingston, Mont., a double major in earth and climate science and dance, was describing one of the happy traditions that surround Mount David Summit, the annual celebration of student academic achievement that took place this year on April 5 in its tradition setting, Pettengill Hall.

The happy tradition is how students show up to support their friends who are presenting at the summit. During poster sessions in Perry Atrium, they gather around their friends as they talk about their research.

In the various Pettengill classrooms, friends attend any number of panel discussions to be part of an engaged audience. And they’re attentive and responsive listers during readings of original creative writing.

Summing up, Welch said, “It’s all about spreading the love.”

For Garry W. Jenkins, who began his tenure as Bates president last July 1, this was his first Mount David Summit.

Prelude

‘Quintessentially Bates’

“We invite you all to experience our students’ enthusiasm for their work as you witness their ownership of this amazing opportunity that is a Bates education. This event is quintessentially Bates.” — President Garry W. Jenkins

‘Now it’s my turn’

“I just walked in and all I’ve seen are smiles on people’s faces. Parents, friends, siblings, all throughout the atrium. It’s like a last sendoff for all the hard work that we’ve put ourselves through this semester and the whole four years that we’ve been at Bates.” — Simon McCormick ’24, a psychology major from Whitefield, Maine

McCormick presented research on how legal sports gambling has changed sports dynamics and outlined links to addiction and behavior changes.

‘Now it’s my turn’

“It’s hard to put into words. It’s been this buildup for four years, and now it’s my turn.” — Ed Zuis ’24 of Monmouth, Maine, a double major in biological chemistry and mathematics

Zuis presented research on how certain metabolites in various plant species might help stop the spread of COVID-19 by blocking how the coronavirus enters cells.

‘A communal space’

“This summit is a communal space: Students, faculty, staff and the broader community gather and celebrate academic pursuits and diverse interests.” — Tamaki Hashiramoto ’24, a psychology major from Tokyo, Japan

Hashiramoto presented research on the harmful effects of internalized model minority and racism beliefs on Asian Americans’ mental health, exploring ways to address and heal such psychological impacts.

‘Everything at your fingertips’

“I really appreciate the structure that the Harward Center for Community Partnerships gave me in exploring beyond Bates. You have everything at your fingertips at Bates to learn what it means to be a grounded citizen and be civically engaged and community-minded.” — Isaac Levinger ’24, a sociology major from Rockville, Md.

Levinger presented research on educational inequality for Black immigrant students in urban schools, focusing on their relationships and experiences, identifying racialized tracking, and also highlighting opportunities for success through collaboration.

22nd Annual Barlow Off-Campus Study Photography Exhibition

Seeing and being seen

“The most special part of Mount David is the fact that I get to see all my friends present, and they get to see me present. When I’m in the lab, it’s not like there’s a camera on me, ‘Here’s what Maddie is doing today!’ So it’s cool to be able to have my friends come and see what I’ve been doing.” — Maddy Ewell ’24, a neuroscience major from Ridgewood, N.J.

Ewell presented senior thesis research on retinal ganglion cells, which are crucial for eye-brain communication and a major focus of regenerative neuroscience research.

A poem about that feeling

“I don’t know if you’ve all been there, but in Italy they’re very big on PDA. So if someone’s a couple, you’ll know it immediately. I was feeling a little heartbroken at the time, so that didn’t help, so this poem is about that feeling.” — Tim Perry ’24, an English major from Newbury, Mass., introducing his poem “Lovers in Milan”

At the summit, Perry read selections of poetry created for his senior thesis, a collection that details his experience at school, online, and abroad and seeks to define the time he lives in. Perry was one of seven creative-writing majors who read their work at the summit.

‘The cool science’

“I’ve been involved with my research project for basically a year, including last summer, and then wrote my thesis. A lot of my friends have heard me talking about all the cool science I’ve done.” — Jamie Hollander ’24 an earth and climate sciences major from Medfield, Mass.

Hollander presented research on how coastal tidal barriers can reduce the effectiveness of how salt marches sequester, or store, carbon.

One word

“Collaborative.” — Nina Greeley ’24, a biological chemistry major from Scarborough, Maine, describing Mount David Summit in one word

Greeley presented research on new compounds to combat antibiotic resistance, including phenylpropanoid glycosides, which show promise in fighting bacteria like Staphylococcus epidermidis, addressing urgent global health concerns.

‘A meaningful part ’

“The experience at Bates is so rich and has so much to offer. It’s also great to get out beyond campus and understand or look into life in Lewiston, and be a meaningful part of the Lewiston community.” — Isaac Levinger ’24