Thomas Mitchell and Raven Burks have been named Mr. and Miss Rhodes for 2017. The seniors were recognized Oct. 28 at the college’s homecoming football game, where the Lynx defeated the Sewanee Tigers.
Mitchell, a political science and educational studies double major from Knoxville, TN, serves as Rhodes Student Government president. He also is a service scholar through the Bonner Program and a former student director of Rhodes’ Kinney Program for community service. In spring 2017, he was selected a recipient of the prestigious Truman Scholarship, which provides support for graduate study in preparation for careers in government, public service, the nonprofit sector, or education. Mitchell has developed a passion for K-12 education, and he has been involved in campus-wide efforts to engage students in service and leadership.
A political science major from Memphis, TN, Burks serves as president of the Rhodes chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and secretary of Rho Lambda leadership recognition society, as well as a resident assistant and Serving Our Students program mentor. In addition, she has served as vice president of Best Buddies and the Black Student Association. Burks is a recipient of a Girls, Inc. scholarship promoting leadership development and a recipient of Rhodes’ Clarence Day Scholarship, which is awarded to Memphis-area students who have already demonstrated a passion for the city and want to continue to make a difference through service and leadership initiatives.