The student-led Campus Life Awards on April 23 recognized members of the Rhodes community for their commitment and passion in various areas of campus involvement. Hosted by the Rhodes Student Government (RSG), this annual event celebrates the achievements of student leaders, student organizations, and the support provided by faculty and staff.

Sophia Cracraft, Lydia Gold, Melate Kebede, and Erin McTigue—members of the Rhodes College Class of 2026—have been selected to receive Fulbright U.S. Student Awards for the 2026-2027 academic year. The Fulbright Program currently facilitates the exchange of students and scholars between the United States and more than 140 countries, and applications for 2026-2027 continue to be reviewed. Rhodes is among the top producers of Fulbright U.S. Students. Cracraft and Gold in Taiwan, Kebede in Bulgaria, and McTigue in Germany will serve as English teaching assistants in their assigned countries and as cultural ambassadors for the U.S.

A Rhodes College Data Analytics team took home the Best Data Visualization Award at the American Statistical Association (ASA) DataFest held at Freed-Hardeman University in Henderson, TN, April 24-26.The winning Rhodes team includes Eba Deressa, Aleem Azhar, Golam Hisham, Phuong Tran, and Aayan Pratim Deb.

In making his college decision, the top priority for urban and education studies major Mitchell Leander was community. “I knew I wanted to go someplace where I could do a lot of different things, and I knew that I would be really supported at Rhodes,” says the Nashville native. “Another big reason was because historically the mock trial team is the best in the country. I am interested in law and wanted to learn what it meant to use law as a tool for advocacy.” 

Rhodes College junior Johnathan Burch, who is a political science and health equity double major from Heath Springs, SC, is among 55 outstanding college students from across the country who have been named 2026 Truman Scholars. The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation made the announcement today.

Over the course of eight weeks in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Lily Grace Richey '27 didn’t just study global issues; as a Mertie Buckman International International Scholar, she lived them.

Dr. Žak Ozmo, a visiting assistant professor of music at Rhodes College, has been named the first recipient of the Health & Wellness Award presented by the Soulsville Foundation. The award will be presented April 30 at Crosstown Theater in Memphis during the foundation’s Power of Music Honors event.

The 2025-2026 mock trial season ended April 17-19 with Rhodes competing in the American Mock Trial Association National Championship Tournament. Rhodes achieved an impressive fourth place finish. Out of the original 800 teams, only the top 50 made the finals.

Dr. Geoff Bakewell, professor of Ancient Mediterranean Studies at Rhodes College, has been appointed inaugural holder of the Brian D. Joseph Endowed Chair in Classics at the College Year in Athens. His three-year (visiting) term begins Sept. 1, 2026.