Annual awards were presented at the 177th Commencement Exercises of Rhodes College held May 16 on campus.
GraceAnne Hodgson is the recipient of the Peyton Nalle Rhodes Phi Beta Kappa Prize. The 2026 Algernon Sydney Sullivan Awards were presented to graduating seniors Abigail Figueroa and Jasmine Jeffries and to David McCarthy, professor of art and art history. The college presented the Distinguished Service Medal to Richard Huddleston, the college’s bursar and a member of the Rhodes Class of 1984.
Rhodes Data Analytics Team Wins Best Data Visualization Award
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.
April 28, 2026
Using Legal Advocacy and Education to Create Change: Mitchell Leander ’27
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.”
April 28, 2026
Rhodes Junior Johnathan Burch Selected for Nationally Competitive Truman Scholarship
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.
April 24, 2026
Understanding the World Through Lived Experience: Lily Grace Richey ’27
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.
April 22, 2026
Ozmo to Receive Inaugural Health & Wellness Award Presented by the Soulsville Foundation
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.
April 21, 2026
Rhodes Mock Trial Finishes Fourth at Nationals
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.
April 20, 2026
Bakewell Appointed Inaugural Endowed Visiting Professor in Greece
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.
April 14, 2026
Gottlieb Receives Second Fulbright Scholar Award
Dr. Eric Gottlieb, associate professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Rhodes College, has been granted a Fulbright Scholar Award to teach and conduct research in mathematics at the University of Primorska in Koper, Slovenia from October 2026 to February 2027. This is Gottlieb’s second Fulbright, having receive the award in 2004 to conduct research in Chile and teach calculus courses at the Universidad de Talca.
April 14, 2026
Rhodes Giving Day Hits the Mark, Shows Community Spirit
The highly anticipated Rhodes Giving Day was held April 8, and this year’s event met its goal of reaching 1,000 donors in just one day. The campaign received 1,003 gifts and raised $272,890, highlighting the commitment and passion of supporters.
April 13, 2026