College to Host Community Celebration This Wednesday Afternoon
The Plough Foundation has awarded a $4.4 million grant to Rhodes College to support the renovation and expansion of the college’s sciences facilities.
“We could not be more grateful to the Plough Foundation for their support of our science initiatives, says President William E. Troutt. “This grant will allow us to greatly enhance the teaching and learning that happens with our outstanding faculty and extraordinary students.”
Plough Foundation Executive Director Mike Carpenter adds, “We are pleased to support the science renovation project at Rhodes. The college’s commitment to making Memphis better is consistent with our values at the Foundation.”
Rhodes will host a Community Celebration on Wednesday, Aug. 21 at 4:15 p.m. in the Frazier Jelke Science Center lobby on the college’s campus. For more information about the event, please contact Angela Fletcher at (901) 843-3958 or fletchera@rhodes.edu.
About the Plough Foundation
Abe Plough was a Memphis-area entrepreneur who started his company in 1908, merging with the Schering Corporation in 1971 to form Schering-Plough, a global pharmaceutical research and development company. The Plough Foundation is an independent, private organization that funds a diverse group of nonprofit entities that work to address the many pressing social and economic issues facing Memphis and Shelby County including health care, public safety, early childhood education and cultural arts.
About the Science Facilities Enhancements Underway at Rhodes College
Rhodes College has an impressive history of graduates who go on to pursue careers in medicine and the sciences. Rhodes is in the top 6 percent of all U.S. higher education institutions that produce students who earn Ph.Ds. in the sciences. In addition, the college is ranked 17th in the nation for the number of physics majors who have gone on to receive a Ph.D. in physics or astronomy. And Rhodes is in the top 10 in the nation as an undergraduate source of psychology Ph.Ds.
In recent years, student interest in the sciences has increased, the faculty has grown, and the college has added new majors and academic programs in biochemistry, molecular biology, neuroscience, environmental sciences and studies, and community health and urban studies. However, Rhodes’ current science buildings, which were constructed more than 50 years ago, need to be renovated to accommodate the type of research-based, interdisciplinary group work that is required in today’s scientific environment.
In order to offer students the first-class, modern facilities that they expect based on Rhodes’ academic reputation, the college has launched The Campaign for Rhodes, which, in addition to raising funds that will improve the college’s science facilities, will also help provide financial aid to deserving students and help equip all faculty with the tools, talent and resources needed to continue to inspire students.