The 2023-2024 mock trial season ended April 19-21 with Rhodes teams competing in the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) National Championship Tournament in Chicago. Rhodes A finished second in its division and Rhodes B finished sixth.

Parth Sinojia ’25 won the undergraduate category and Jake Ackerman ’24 was runner-up at the Memphis Area Collegiate Geospatial Showcase presented April 12 at The University of Memphis. Dr. Kate Shields, assistant professor of environmental studies and sciences, accompanied the students and was part of a career panel at the event.

The new Rhodes College Venture Challenge, a dynamic business pitch competition designed to empower aspiring student entrepreneurs, will be held April 25 on campus. Six student teams from Rhodes will vie for a $15,000 Grand Prize. The Rhodes community and Memphis public are invited to the event to cast their votes for their favorite team, which will receive the People’s Choice Award.

Lily Whitesell's passion for STEM subjects flourished into endeavors spanning multiple disciplines, institutions, and countries while at Rhodes.

Jannelle Bannor’s desire to become a physician developed when she was a teenager and observed the compassionate care administered to her older sister, who is a cancer survivor. She chose chemistry as her major at Rhodes and took advantage of the college’s Health Professions Advising Office. Now the senior from Chattanooga, TN, has been accepted to 16 medical schools.

Jazmin Montes ’24, Alex Moreno-Espinosa ’27, Lucy Page ’24, and Yesica Trejo ’26, who are pursuing majors and minors in Latin American and Latinx studies, presented their research at the Latin American and Latinx Studies Symposium held at Rollins College on March 22 in Winter Park, FL. Students from across the country gathered at this interdisciplinary forum to showcase original research and creative projects conducted at their institution.

Plans are underway for the 2024 Commencement Exercises of Rhodes College to be held Saturday, May 11. Julie Gehrki, a member of the Rhodes Class of 2002 and vice president of philanthropy at Walmart, has been selected to deliver the address at the Baccalaureate Convocation on Friday, May 10, 2024. The program includes reflections from members of the graduating class and expressions of gratitude to those who have helped them in their journey along the way.

Dr. Charles McKinney, chair of Africana studies and an associate professor of history at Rhodes, has co-edited a new book with Brown University history professor Françoise N. Hamlin titled From Rights to Lives: The Evolution of the Black Freedom Struggle.

The Southwestern Review is the college’s literary journal produced by Rhodes students, and its goal is to publish work—including literature and art—that inspires original thought, community-building, and support for creative expression. The launch party for the 2024 edition will be Tuesday, April 16, at 5:30 p.m. in Hardie Auditorium and will include music, readings, food, and copies of the new issue.

Members of the Rhodes community celebrated Rhodes Giving Day on April 10—raising $270,033 and 1,340 gifts—a new record for Rhodes for number of gifts made in one day. Dozens of volunteers helped drive the challenge to success.