After her first year at Bates, Cindi Byrkit ’74 wasn’t sure if she’d stay. She was shy and the newness of college 1,200 miles from where she grew up in Wisconsin felt daunting. But as soon as she was back in Wisconsin for the summer, she missed Maine and Bates. Cindi had made an agreement with a friend to come back to Bates and room together, and they did for another 2 years.

Something about Maine kept tugging her back. She had found her place as a part of her extended family’s long history in Central Maine. Prior to attending Bates, Cindi had spent time every summer on her grandmother’s farm in Auburn. Her grandfather grew up
in the great big house on the corner of Frye and Main St. Even the Frye family, for whom Frye Street is named, are ancestors. She comes from a long line of Bates graduates.

Even though Cindi remained shy throughout her time on campus she still saw the impact of the Bates community of learning, an element of the experience for which she is still grateful. “I wouldn’t have been able to be at Bates without a scholarship. My parents had 3 kids in 3 years. They valued education and so do I.” In and out of the classroom, she made the most of her time. A Short Term course at the Maine Historical Society put her history degree to work.

After graduating in 1974, Cindi returned briefly to Wisconsin, only to come back to Maine—once again—and stayed. Settling in Portland, she built a 40-year career in group health insurance.

Years later, when her 50th Reunion started creeping closer, Cindi wanted to do more for Bates than she had been able to earlier in her career, and she realized that she could through an estate commitment. Cindi documented her bequest intention for Bates during her 50th Reunion year. She explained, “I value liberal arts and I value my family’s connection to Bates and my place in it. Also, I’m in a place in my life where I can do this, rather than just giving every year. I have this amount of money and I want it to go to Bates and be used in whatever way that seems right to Bates.”

Cindi is grateful to be close enough to Bates that she can continue to be a part of the campus community and walk the indoor track (which wasn’t built yet in the early ‘70s) when it’s too messy to be outside.

She may have once doubted Bates was her home, but not for long. Cindi now wants to be sure the Bates experience is possible for future generations.

Learn more about Planned Giving as a simple yet powerful way to give back.