The Rhodes College chapter of Mortar Board is a recipient of the national office’s 2025 Gold Torch Award, which honors chapters that are dedicated to the organization’s purpose and its Ideals and are active on campus in ways that improve the quality of student life.
The chapter also has been recognized in the Project Excellence in Community Service category for its Teacher Appreciation Drive. Members coordinated a campus-wide collection of handwritten thank you notes and small items to thank and encourage teachers and staff at a local elementary school during a tough week of state testing. Promotion occurred through social media and digital forms of communication, and strategic planning required peer mobilization and follow-through, demonstrating Mortar Board members’ leadership, initiative, and ability to unite the campus around shared values.
Founded in 1918, Mortar Board recognizes college seniors for their achievements in scholarship, leadership, and service; provides opportunities for continued leadership development; promotes service to colleges and universities; and encourages lifelong contributions to the global community. Only a select few students on each campus are invited to join the esteemed society.
The Rhodes chapter was chartered in 1964.