Chick-fil-A Chairman and Berry College Trustee Emeritus Dan Cathy will serve as the speaker for Berry College’s Class of 2026 Commencement Celebration on Saturday, May 9th, at Valhalla Stadium.

Berry College will celebrate approximately 545 undergraduate graduates beginning at 9:00 a.m. The Class of 2026 represents 47 academic majors and includes students from 31 states.

Gates will open at 8:00 a.m., with early entry beginning at 7:30 a.m. for guests who need special assistance. Due to current lane closures on Highway 27, guests are encouraged to enter campus through the back entrance at 221 Legacy Drive Northwest.

Cathy served on the Berry College Board of Trustees from 2001 to 2016. He is chairman of Chick-fil-A, the Atlanta-based restaurant chain founded in 1946 by his father, S. Truett Cathy.

Cathy is also the founder and chief visionary at Trilith, a major film and entertainment community in Fayette County that includes one of the largest purpose-built movie studios in North America.

Berry graduate students will receive their degrees during a separate commencement ceremony on Friday, May 8th, at the College Chapel. A Baccalaureate Service honoring graduating seniors will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6th, also at the chapel.