Cali VanCleve, a Rhodes College sophomore majoring in international studies and Russian, has been selected to receive the Boren Scholarship, which funds study abroad with the goal of immersing students in a language critical to U.S. national security interests. In the summer and fall of 2024, she will study Russian in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, as part of the School of Russian and Asian Studies’ Russian as a Second Language Program.

The Rhodes Historical Review is published annually by the Rhodes chapter of Phi Alpha Theta history honor society. The student-edited journal accepts essays from across the college that investigate historical subjects and themes from various periods and geographic regions.

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.

Founded in 1776, The Phi Beta Kappa Society is considered America’s oldest and most prestigious academic honor society. Its campus chapters invite for induction the most outstanding liberal arts students at leading colleges and universities across the nation.

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.