Rachel Clayton accepts induction into the Bates Scholar-Athlete Society on May 30, 2015. (Daryn Slover)
Rachel Clayton graduated from Bates in 1990 with a bachelor of arts degree in English. She was a three-sport varsity athlete who participated in volleyball, basketball, and softball and earned the Department of Athletics’ highest honor, the Senior Citation, in both volleyball and softball.
As a member of the volleyball team, Rachel was awarded the highest honor given by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) when in 1989 she was named Bates’ first All-American volleyball player. In addition, she was the 1989 New England Women’s Volleyball Association Player of the Year and named All-Region by the AVCA in both 1988 and 1989. Rachel was a key contributor to the historic 1989 team that went 36-0 and won the ECAC Championship. Over the course of Rachel’s career, under head coach Marsha Graef, the Bates volleyball program won 111 matches while only losing eight.
A four-year starter for the softball team, Rachel was one of the best hitters the program has seen. In 1988, she led the nation in both runs batted in and home runs. She held 22 Bates team records at graduation. Twenty-five years later, she still holds the records for career batting average, career slugging percentage, and single season runs batted in.
After leaving Bates, Rachel moved to Colorado Springs, where she played US Team Handball for two years. She had a wonderful experience with the team, traveling and competing internationally. After her adventures in Colorado, Rachel returned to Boston and started training in the culinary field, where she would ultimately discover her life-long career. She trained for many years as a sous chef and eventually took over her own kitchen as executive chef at the Myopia Hunt Club. Rachel’s success as an executive chef opened doors for her to move into her current role as culinary director for a Boston private school system. Now, Rachel lives in Somerville, Massachusetts and spends her spare time playing music professionally, traveling and enjoying the company of her large family.
In recognition of her outstanding career as an athlete, and for her dedication, leadership and commitment to academics and athletics, it is an honor to offer membership in the Bates Scholar-Athlete Society to Rachel Clayton.
