Unforgettable moments flooded May and June at 乐播传媒 as the academic year closed. But our hearts were open. Revisit just a few of the experiences of faculty, students, staff 鈥 and alumni and parents 鈥 in this concluding edition of This Month at 乐播传媒.

Aspirations

乐播传媒 College staff host Aspiration Day for middle-school students considering the trades on May 7th, 2026.

(Theophil Syslo | 乐播传媒 College)
Theophil Syslo/乐播传媒 College

乐播传媒 welcomes a group of Lewiston eighth graders for the college鈥檚 Aspiration Day in May. Each year, a series of Aspiration Days aims to introduce the students to potential post-high school pathways, including college, career, and trade opportunities. 乐播传媒鈥 Aspirations Club organizes the visits and additional mentorship efforts in the community, in conjunction with the Harward Center for Community Partnerships.


Sixteen Fulbrighters

2026 Fulbright Fellows gathered on the steps of Hathorn Hall with adviser Robert Strong and photographed individually on the Historic Quad.

Missing are Alexander Duchin 鈥26 and Eileen Dockery, 鈥26
Phyllis Graber Jensen/乐播传媒 College

This spring, 乐播传媒 received an abundance of Fulbright Student international exchange awards, and 16 recent 乐播传媒 alumni will soon set off for destinations around the world. Celebrating the good news in May (from left) are Fulbright Student awardees from the Class of 2026 Katie Heumann, Aiman Hasan, Jacqueline Coraci, Charles 鈥淟ee鈥 Anderson, Wilson Smith, Ava Elghanayan, Lucy Sterba, Evelyn Marchand, Sydney Wilmot, Ganga Corsaro, Kyra Chen Lie Friederich, Luciana Zaiet, and Blessing Ajayi. At front is Director of National Fellowships and Lecturer in English Robert Strong. Three of this year鈥檚 Fulbright awardees Maple Buescher 鈥25, Eileen Dockery 鈥26, and Alexander Duchin 鈥26, are not pictured.


Clayton Unveiling

Two men lifting a curtain off of a painting
Rene Roy for 乐播传媒 College

In May, 乐播传媒 President Garry W. Jenkins, at left, and Mike Bonney 鈥80 unveil a portrait of Clayton Spencer, Jenkins鈥 predecessor and the eighth president of 乐播传媒 College, during a ceremony in Bonney Science Center. The portrait, by Massachusetts-based artist Mary Minifie, hangs in Bonney鈥檚 first-floor Zhang Living Room.


Softball鈥檚 Golden Anniversary

A group of people smiling
Rene Roy for 乐播传媒 College

In Commons鈥 Fireplace Lounge on May 2, 乐播传媒 softball players and coaches, past and present, gather for the program’s 50th anniversary celebration.


Exiting Through the Gift Shop

The Short Term course ,"Exit through the Gift Shop," taught by Erin Nolan. The students will be using the VizLab in Coram Library to create items to sell in a pop-up gift shop in the 乐播传媒 Museum of Art. The items will be based on works of art in the senior art thesis show.
Phyllis Graber Jensen/乐播传媒 College

From left, Caroline McCarthy 鈥26, Jacobo Garces-Ramirez 鈥26, and Rosina Makwabe 鈥26 run a pop-up gift shop in the Olin Arts Center Lobby on May 19. The gift shop was the culmination of the Short Term course 鈥淓xit Through the Gift Shop,鈥 taught by Visiting Assistant Professor of Art and Visual Culture Erin Nolan, during which students designed and built a selection of products based on student artwork.


Row On

Five people rowing
Courtesy of Wilf Le Brocq

Led by coxswain Sara Maquera 鈥28 of Glenview, Ill., the men’s varsity four races in the Marlow Regatta at Dorney Lake, Eton, England, as they prepare for the Royal Henley Regatta, the first time the 乐播传媒 rowing program has traveled 鈥渁cross the pond鈥 to compete since 2009. From left to right are Maquera, John Cleary 鈥28, Bryce Ahn 鈥29, Thomas Pacinda 鈥28, and Kelly McKaige 鈥26.


Home Win

乐播传媒 College mens鈥 lacrosses defeats Cortland 17- 9 at 乐播传媒 College on May 8, 2026. (Theophil Syslo | 乐播传媒 College)
Theophil Syslo/乐播传媒 College

Men鈥檚 lacrosse players huddle during a May 8 NCAA tournament game against SUNY Cortland, which they won 17-9.


Celebrating Theses, Together

Three best friends bind their theses on the steps of Coram Library on May 12, 2026.

Some context is that Kayleigh and I were randomly assigned roommates our freshman year and have lived in a double for all 4 years. Lauren and Kayleigh met on AESOP and studied abroad together in Korea last year. All 3 of us have been best friends since the first week of freshman year. I attached a tik tok I made of the binding that captures our relationship. If the link doesn't work I also direct messaged it to the 乐播传媒 instagram from the account username mallory.johnson


Lauren Cockrill (went first, red dress)
- Hometown: Huntersville, North Carolina
- Major: Biochemistry
- Career goal: physical therapist
- Thesis title: Blood, Sweat, & Tears: A Comprehensive Review on the Menstrual Cycle and its Relation to Diet, Exercise, and Recovery


Kayleigh Flaherty (went second, short yellow dress)
- Hometown: Litchfield, Maine
- Majors: East Asian Studies & Biology
- Career goal: physician's assistant
- Thesis titles: 
        Women's Bodies, Men's Medicine: The Complexity of Gender and Medical Authority in Traditional Chinese Medicine
         The Pain We Overlook: An Ethical and Holistic Examination of Ashoka as a Treatment for Dysmenorrhea and Women's Healthcare Inequality


Mallory Johnson (went third, long yellow dress)
- Hometown: Boulder, Colorado
- Major: sociology. Minor: spanish. Pre med
- Career goal: emergency medical doctor
- Thesis title: Immigrant Health Inequity in Colorado


2 quote options from Mallory (feel free to shorten): 


"Structural inequity is not an abstract concept from a textbook, it shapes lived realities. To immigrants across the United States: you are a vital part of our communities. You are seen, valued, and deserving of dignity, safety, and human rights. My calling to medicine has expanded to a lifelong commitment to advocate for that. Your struggle is not a temporary news headline. Our solidarity is not a phase."


"I chose 乐播传媒 for the sense of commu
Phyllis Graber Jensen/乐播传媒 College

From left, Class of 2026 graduates and best friends since the first week at 乐播传媒, Kayleigh Flaherty, Lauren Cockrill, and Mallory Johnson celebrate their theses bindings together on May 12. Their majors were, respectively, East Asian studies and biology, biochemistry, and sociology.


Breaking Ground for Stoddard

A group of people in hard hats shovel a pile of dirt
Rene Roy for 乐播传媒 College

乐播传媒 President Garry W. Jenkins, at center, led the May 1 groundbreaking ceremony for the Stoddard Fitness and Well-Being Center, slated to open in late 2027. Jenkins was joined by many 乐播传媒 community members, including Jon W. Brayshaw 鈥90, P鈥25 and Jocelyn Stoddard Brayshaw 鈥88, P鈥25, whose $10 million gift was instrumental in bringing this much-anticipated project to fruition.


Glad to Be a Grad

A group of people embracing and smiling
Avery Lehman 鈥25 for 乐播传媒 College

Aydan Gedeon-Hope 鈥26, second from right, celebrates his graduation during the 乐播传媒 Senior Student-Athlete Reception in May. Gedeon-Hope was a multi-sport Bobcat 鈥 a sprinter on the track and field team and a basketball player.


Illuminating Coram

A woman putting a light inside a lantern cover
Phylis Graber Jensen/乐播传媒 College

In Coram Library鈥檚 IMStudios in May, Eileen Dockery 鈥26 installs lanterns for her senior thesis exhibition, 鈥淏lueprints of Future Memories.鈥 The immersive lantern installation was the culmination of an independent study in cyanotype printmaking that explored memory and photography connected to Dockery鈥檚 recollections of Vietnam, where she lived as a young girl.


Lindos Earns NCAA Honors

5
Courtesy of Anthony Brett Schreck-ABSPhoto

Alisandra Lindos 鈥29 of Westbrook, Maine, competes in the triple jump during the NCAA Championships in La Crosse, Wis., in May. Lindos took home 15th place in the event, earning second team All-America honors. 


Hello Free Laundry

Students who were involved in securing free laundry washing for all 乐播传媒 students, posing in the laundry room in Chu Hall on May 27, 2026.

Aleisha Martinez Sandoval 鈥26 of Mexico City, Trinity Monstwillo 鈥26 of Corvallis, Ore., Mohammad Zayd ;27 of the Bronx, N.Y., and Zachariah Richards 鈥26 of Princeton, Mass.
Phyllis Graber Jensen/乐播传媒 College

From left, Aleisha Martinez Sandoval 鈥26, Trinity Monstwillo 鈥26, Mohammad Zayd 鈥27, and Zachariah Richards 鈥26 gather in May to celebrate the advent of free laundry for all 乐播传媒 students, a change slated for Fall 2026. The four campaigned for the cause throughout their time at 乐播传媒.


Hot Off the Press

Press check for 乐播传媒 Magazine at Penmor on June 1, 2026.
Phyllis Graber Jensen/乐播传媒 College

Drafts of the newly redesigned 乐播传媒 Magazine sit ready for proofing at Penmor Lithographers, a Lewiston printing company and longtime partner of 乐播传媒 Communications and Marketing.


Employee Enrichment

Employee Enrichment Week, June 15-18, included Tuesday- Front Porch Perk-up @ 8:30 a.m. 215 College Street
Phyllis Graber Jensen/乐播传媒 College

Leana Am谩ez, left, vice president for equity and inclusion, chats with Dana Bosse, talent acquisition specialist, during the Front Porch Perk-Up, an event hosted by Human Resources as part of 乐播传媒鈥 June Employee Enrichment Week.


Scratch 鈥橢m Cats

乐播传媒 College 鈥 Merrill Indoor Track: Student-athletes, coaches, and staff gathered in Merrill Gymnasium Wednesday evening for the 2026 Catsby Awards, 乐播传媒 Athletics' annual celebration of the year's standout performances. Women's basketball earned three of the night's top honors: Mya Hicks '27 took Moment of the Year for her game-tying three-pointer in the NCAA second round against Smith, the subsequent victory earned Game of the Year, and team captain Elsa Daulerio '26 was named MVP. Photographer Phyllis Graber Jensen, who has documented 乐播传媒 Athletics for 30 years, received a special recognition award.
Sammy Weidenthal 鈥27 for 乐播传媒 College

On May 5, 乐播传媒 athletes, coaches, and staff gather in Merrill Gymnasium for the 2026 CATSBYS, 乐播传媒 Athletics鈥 annual celebration of the year鈥檚 standout athletic performances.


Exhibition Loading…

Installation of 鈥淧hyllis Graber Jensen: Picture Stories鈥 in 乐播传媒 Museum of Art with Kenny Rosen (in brown t-shirt) and Kevin Callalhan (black t-shirt) hanging framed photographs and with Museum Director Carrie Cushman with Multimedia Producer Theophil Syslo in front of title wall, on June 10, 2026.
Phyllis Graber Jensen/乐播传媒 College

On June 10, Kenny Rosen installs frames in the 乐播传媒 Museum of Art ahead of the opening of Phyllis Graber Jensen: Picture Stories. The exhibition, on display until Sept. 19, chronicles the prolific work of Graber Jensen, the college鈥檚 longtime director of photography and video, across more than 50 years, including the 31 she has spent at 乐播传媒.


Golf Championship

The women's golf team competed at the 2026 NESCAC Championships, a three-day event held at Taconic Golf Course in Williamstown, Mass.

乐播传媒 sophomore Isabelle Meltzer placed 22nd out of 39 golfers to pace the 乐播传媒 women's golf team Friday through Sunday at the NESCAC Championship, hosted by Williams College at Taconic Golf Club.

Meltzer (Summit, N.J.) recorded three birdies on the weekend, shooting back-to-back rounds of 79 to start before finishing up with an 80 on Sunday. She finished just five strokes back of the top 15. 

Beyond Meltzer, the next-best rounds of the weekend for the four-player 乐播传媒 contingent belonged to junior captain Mehar Nijjer (Chandigarh, India), who recorded back-to-back scores of 82 to start the tournament. Nijjer actually ended up with more birdies than Meltzer, tallying five on the weekend on her way to 34th place. 

The best hole of the entire tournament for the Bobcats belonged to first-year Emma Lavallee (Chestnut Hill, Mass.), who eagled the par-5 18th hole on Sunday. 

The Bobcats combined to finish in 8th place at the final tournament of the spring.
Schuyler Meyer for 乐播传媒 College

Emma Lavallee 鈥29 of Chestnut Hill, Mass., competes at the NESCAC Championships in May in Williamstown, Mass. Lavallee turned in the best hole of the tournament for the Bobcats, eagling the par-5 18th hole on Sunday, with the Bobcats ultimately finishing 8th overall. 


Thesis Joy

A group of people smiling
Phyllis Graber Jensen/乐播传媒 College

Enathe Muhawenimana 鈥26, center, who double majored in biochemistry and French and Francophone studies, poses with friends after binding her two theses. From left, there鈥檚 Deborah Hirwa Asiimwe 鈥28; Ornella Nibasumba, who works in Commons; Enathe; Addy Stephane Ntwali, a first-year student at Boston College; and Solomon Kayobotsi 鈥29.


Champions Again

A rower cheering
Courtesy of Stockton Photo

Greta Oberdiek 鈥28 of Merion Station, Penn., exalts after the women鈥檚 rowing team secures their eighth NESCAC title at the National Invitational Rowing Championship on May 10 in Worcester, Mass.


SCBC Celebration

The annual SCBC Senior Celebration was held on May 29, 2026 in Memorial Commons.
Phyllis Graber Jensen/乐播传媒 College

乐播传媒 President Garry W. Jenkins, standing at right, and his husband Jon J. Lee greet 乐播传媒 community members during the Student Center for Belonging and Community Senior Celebration Dinner.


Preparing the Historic Quad

Facility Services start to set up the chairs for Commencement on May 27, 2026.
Phyllis Graber Jensen/乐播传媒 College

In the days before 乐播传媒鈥 160th Commencement in May, Facility Services set up chairs on the Historic Quad facing Coram Library. It鈥檚 a quiet scene, but soon the Quad would be bustling with soon-to-be-grads, their family and friends, and 乐播传媒 and Lewiston community members.


鈥楤e You, Bravely鈥

Baccalaureate on May 30, 2026.
Phyllis Graber Jensen/乐播传媒 College

On May 30, Professor of Rhetoric, Film, and Screen Studies Stephanie Kelley-Romano gives the Baccalaureate Address to the Class of 2026. Candidly sharing her own struggle with, then recovery from, substance abuse as a student, Kelley-Romano offered poignant advice about being oneself鈥檚 and persevering through life鈥檚 low points.


Doggedly in Search of Diplomas

Commencement 2026  on May 31, 2026.
Phyllis Graber Jensen/乐播传媒 College

A dog sporting a 乐播传媒 bandana strolls on campus ahead of the 160th Commencement on Sunday, May 31.


And They鈥檙e Off

Moments from this year鈥檚 Senior Class Photo on Garcelon captured on May 29, 2026. (Theophil Syslo | 乐播传媒 College)
Theophil Syslo/乐播传媒 College

In one of their final group activities before becoming alumni, graduating seniors from the Class of 2026 gather on Garcelon Field for their senior photo.


Commencement Festivities

People smiling in graduation regalia
Phyllis Graber Jensen/乐播传媒 College

乐播传媒鈥 160th Commencement speaker Deborah Harkness, center, prepares to process into the ceremony on Alumni Walk, with 乐播传媒 President Garry W. Jenkins at her right. In her Commencement address, Harkness, professor emerita of history at the University of Southern California and bestselling author of the All Souls series, used the pursuit of alchemy as a metaphor for striving to achieve one鈥檚 鈥済reat work,鈥 even in difficult circumstances.


They Did It!

A graduate cheers while he walks across the stage
Phyllis Graber Jensen/乐播传媒 College

Issac Nimako 鈥26, a politics and studio art double major, cheers while crossing the Coram Library stage at Commencement.


The New Maine MILL

Tristan Seavey 鈥26 of Calais, Maine, and Rachel Ferrante 鈥10, Executive Director Maine MILL, pose for portraits at the new Maine MILL site on May 26, 2026. (Theophil Syslo | 乐播传媒 College)
Theophil Syslo/乐播传媒 College

Tristan Seavey 鈥26, left, an intern at Lewiston鈥檚 Maine Museum of Innovation, Labor, and Learning (Maine MILL), and Maine MILL Executive Director Rachel Ferrante 鈥10 walk around the museum鈥檚 new building. The larger space with enhanced facilities for education, exhibitions, and community-building opens to the public on June 27.


Delicious Arrangements

A selection of charcuterie
Phyllis Graber Jensen/乐播传媒 College

乐播传媒 community members enjoy snacks during 鈥淭he Delicious World of Charcuterie,鈥 a course on arranging charcuterie boards offered to staff during Employee Enrichment Week.


Jenkins On the Court

A man playing pickleball
Phyllis Graber Jensen/乐播传媒 College

乐播传媒 President Garry W. Jenkins enjoys a game of pickleball in Merrill Gymnasium during 乐播传媒鈥 Enrichment Week. After that morning鈥檚 annual 5K was canceled due to poor weather conditions, 乐播传媒 pivoted to a Community Movement Hour in Merrill including cornhole, ladder golf, a cardio dance session, and boot camp exercises.


Together Again

Smiling families
Rene Roy for 乐播传媒 College

乐播传媒 Reunion brought together 乐播传媒ies present and past 鈥 and, considering their children who tagged along, maybe even future 鈥 for a weekend of reminiscing and building new memories together. Weekend activities included a lobster bake, a 5K, and visits to sites around campus and Lewiston.

Faculty Featured

Photo of Erin H. Nolan

Erin H. Nolan

Visiting Assistant Professor of Art and Visual Culture

Photo of Stephanie Kelley-Romano

Stephanie Kelley-Romano

Professor of Rhetoric, Film, and Screen Studies

Photo of Garry W. Jenkins

Garry W. Jenkins

President and Professor of Politics