Two Hopkinsville natives, who are also two Rhodes Scholars, returned home Friday night in time for the local NAACP Freedom Fighters Banquet and were honored with a reception and proclamation.
Both men have the prestigious title of Rhodes Scholar, and it comes with the unique circumstance of them being both from Hopkinsville and receiving the distinction only a year a part. Dr. Darryl Banks was named a scholar is 1972, and Dr. Raymond Burse was named a scholar in 1973—one went to Hopkinsville High School and the other to Christian County High School.
Dr. Banks explained what a Rhodes scholarship is, including the chance to study at Oxford University in England, and opening the doors to many opportunities.
He says that Hopkinsville and Christian County should feel proud to know that two Rhodes Scholars came from this community.
Dr. Burse encouraged local students to apply for the post-secondary education scholarship, saying that if you don’t try, you can’t succeed.
He says the scholarship undoubtedly shaped his life in a positive way, and has pushed him to try things that he might not have thought to try before.
Only 32 people a year are selected from the United States to be a Rhodes Scholar, so the fact that Hopkinsville had two public school students earn the distinction is a rarity. The Freedom Fighters Banquet is Saturday night at the Pioneers Complex starting at 6 p.m. and Dr. Banks is the keynote speaker for the event.
Both men were presented with a key to the city, and Friday was proclaimed Dr. Raymond Burse Day, and Saturday as Dr. Darryl Banks Day.