LEWISTON, Maine (AP)  Bates and Colby colleges are holding their commencement exercises in the Maine communities where they are located.

Addressing the Bates graduates on Sunday in Lewiston is Bryan Stevenson from the Equal Justice Initiative, whose work has freed wrongly convicted prisoners on death row.

Addressing Colby grads in Waterville is Republican Sen. Susan Collins.

Colby is bestowing honorary degrees on Rebecca Corbett, assistant managing editor of the New York Times; Gregory Powell, chairman of the Harold Alfond Foundaton; and Theaster Gates, an acclaimed artist.

Receiving honorary degrees at Bates in addition to Stevenson are Bob Ludwig of Portland, a mastering recording engineer; Jill LePore, Harvard professor and writer for the New Yorker; and Lynsey Addario, a Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist.