National and global news about Rhodes students and alums

Rhodes commerce and business alumnus Nick Parinella ’17 has been issued design and utility patents by the United States Patent and Trademark Office for his invention, the Kangaroozie™, a can cooler (or koozie) with a water-resistant compartment to store valuables. Parinella, who served as president of the Rhodes Entrepreneurship Club, created a prototype of the Kangaroozie™ after winning first place in the 2016 Rhodes Business Plan Competition.

Motivated to find a more efficient way to plan a night out, Ben Vickers ’21 hatched the idea for MEET, an app that provides users a glimpse into their favorite bar or restaurant before leaving home and a way to message—and then hopefully meet—other users of the app once there. With the help of co-founder Taylor Smith ’21, Megan Wassef ’21, K’Nori Bone ’21, alum Kerry Love ’20, and DU senior Meier Werthan, the app has been successfully funded and launches in March.

Rhodes environmental science alumna Roberta Moore ’14 is being recognized this month by The Conservation Fund for “Women Who Are Making Conservation History.” The national environmental nonprofit is dedicated to protecting America’s most important landscapes and waterways. “I am doing the work I do now because of the education I received at Rhodes,” says Moore.

Rhodes Professor Karl Erickson and student Gunner Smith ’21 collaborated on a three-dimensional augmented reality project that has since been featured in multiple film and video festivals.

As a result of being a runner-up in last year’s John Quincy Adams Society’s student foreign policy essay contest, political economy major (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) Connor Lambert ’22 had his essay published in The National Interest. He says his advisor Prof. Stephen Ceccoli told him about the contest and helped him research his topic. “One of my favorite things about the political economy major is its interdisciplinary nature. I’ve enjoyed being able to pursue my academic passions across departments,” says Lambert. “Professors Ceccoli, Collins, Sciubba, Wirls, and Cullen all have provided invaluable guidance in their courses.”

Sophia Mason '16 is one of eight recipients of the 2021 New Public Sculptors Fellowship. This fellowship from the Urban Art Commission, in partnership with ArtsMemphis and The University of Memphis, will provide these artists in-depth training and professional development resources in the field of sculptural arts. Topics covered include writing proposals and statements, budgeting, fabrication techniques, community engagement, and modeling and 3D design visualization.

Dr. Altovise Ewing graduated from Rhodes College in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in biology and went on to receive a doctorate in genetics from Howard University. She now is one of the few Black Ph.D.-trained and board-certified genetic counselors in the United States.

Mathematics majors Lawton Walker and Evuilynn Nguyen recently presented posters at the annual Joint Mathematics Meeting, known as the world’s largest mathematics gathering. Both students are seniors and pursuing minors in computer science.

Rhodes College biology alumna Morgan Fuller ’16 recently received the Student DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) of the Year award at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine-Georgia. She is a candidate for the national Student DO of the Year award, which will be announced this spring and is hosted by the American Association of Colleges and Osteopathic Medicine.

Professors Hotz, Loynes, Stoddard, Goodman, and Marchand will present talks on the theme of equity for The Academic Minute program.