This year marks the 100th anniversary of Rhodes College’s move to the city of Memphis, and over that time the college has actively attracted students from all over the nation and abroad who are intellectually curious, service oriented, creative, globally minded, and interested in connecting with the city in ways that are mutually beneficial and meaningful.
“On behalf of our esteemed faculty, dedicated staff, and committed Trustees, I am delighted to welcome you—the great Class of 2029—to Rhodes College,” said Rhodes President Jennifer Collins on Aug. 15 at Opening Convocation, which is an annual ceremony to mark a new academic session.
The first day of classes is Wednesday, Aug. 20. The college is expecting 500 students in the Class of 2029, who come from 39 states and territories and 26 countries, and 15 transfer students from various colleges and universities.
At the Opening Convocation, Collins shared information about the Class of 2029: “Many of you have founded nonprofits and worked on behalf of people around the globe, including international refugees in Germany, orphans in Kazakhstan, children of incarcerated people in Singapore, youth in Zimbabwe, religious minorities in rural Pakistan, the visually impaired in India, and veterans and at-risk children right here in the United States. You are published researchers, writers and poets—one of you is even an advice columnist! You are artists and musicians, environmental activists and inventors. We have business owners and entrepreneurs—a cake baking business, a digital imaging production company, and an app developer, for example.
“We have student body presidents and class officers; club founders and sports team captains; yearbook, newspaper, and literary magazine editors; an open water marathon swimmer, a mountain bike racer, and an animal lover who owns over 20 snakes and lizards.”
Members of the Class of 2029 have standout academic credentials, with 86 percent having a high school GPA of 3.5 or higher and 44 percent ranking in the top 10 percent of their high school class.