The 175th Commencement of Rhodes College will be held Saturday, May 11, at 8:30 a.m. in the Hubert F. Fisher Memorial Garden on campus. In the event of rain, Commencement will take place in the Bryan Campus Life Center. Tickets are required for seating, and the program will also stream live at www.rhodes.edu.
Rhodes will award degrees to some 424 candidates, including the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Master of Science in Accounting, and Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Health Equity. The candidates represent 41 states, the District of Columbia, and 32 non-U.S. countries.
Rhodes College President Jennifer M. Collins will preside over the ceremony, and Memphians and veteran executives Deanie Parker and William C. Rhodes III each will receive the honorary Doctor of Humanities.
Rhodes is the former president and chief executive officer of AutoZone, where he continues to serve as executive chairman of the board. Parker, who received two Grammy Awards this year, was the publicist of legendary Stax Records and the first president and CEO of the Soulsville Foundation, which is the parent organization for the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, the Stax Music Academy, and The Soulsville Charter School.
Annual awards to be presented at commencement include the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, given to two graduating seniors and one non-student who have given selflessly to others and the college; the Distinguished Service Medal, bestowed upon an individual who exemplifies selfless service; and the Peyton Nalle Rhodes Phi Beta Kappa Award, given to the graduating senior who exemplifies the highest qualities of scholarship, achievement, creativity, and commitment to the liberal arts and sciences.
Prior to the commencement, Rhodes’ Baccalaureate Service will be held on Friday, May 10, at 3:30 p.m. in the Bryan Campus Life Center. Julie Gehrki, a member of the Rhodes Class of 2002 and vice president of philanthropy at Walmart, will deliver the address.