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July 9, 2026

Berry College Receives Nearly $750,000 for Longleaf Pine Restoration Project

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Berry College and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources have been awarded nearly $750,000 to restore thousands of acres of longleaf pine habitat in Northwest Georgia.

The project is supported by a $387,100 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, with matching funds bringing the total investment to nearly $750,000.

The grant was secured by Dr. Adrienne Ernst, director of the Berry College Longleaf Pine Project, along with collaborators Carlee Steppe and Allison Melcher of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division.

The funding will be used to restore calcareous flatwoods and montane longleaf pine habitats at Berry College and nearby Georgia DNR Wildlife Management Areas. The project also aims to help recover Mohr’s Barbara’s button, a federally threatened plant species found in the flatwoods.

Officials say more than 3,000 acres will be restored and managed through prescribed burning, invasive species control, and targeted habitat improvements. The team will also develop a 50-year management plan to guide long-term conservation efforts across the landscape.

June 25, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Berry College Earns National Career Readiness Award

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Berry College has received national recognition for its commitment to preparing students for successful careers, earning an honorable mention from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) for career readiness excellence.

College officials said the award recognizes Berry’s distinctive LifeWorks program, which provides students with meaningful paid work experiences and professional development opportunities throughout their college careers. More than 90 percent of Berry students participate in the program, which offers over 1,000 paid student jobs across more than 180 campus departments.

According to Berry College, 85 percent of graduating seniors credit their student work experiences and supervisors with helping them achieve their career goals. The college also reports that 99 percent of graduates have achieved a positive career outcome within six months of graduation for the past six consecutive years.

Dean of Personal and Professional Development Marc Hunsaker said the recognition reflects the college’s efforts to embed career readiness throughout the student experience, while President Sandeep Mazumder noted that the program helps students connect learning with leadership and future career success.

June 4, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Berry College Students Named Gilman Scholars

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Three Berry College students have received Gilman Scholarships to support their study abroad programs in Japan, Spain and Costa Rica this summer.

June 1, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Berry College Earns A+ Financial Health Rating From Forbes For Second Straight Year

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Berry College has once again received national recognition for its financial strength, earning an A+ rating in Forbes’ 2026 College Financial Grades.

May 2, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Berry College Partners With Georgia Department Of Corrections To Bring College Courses To Walker State Prison

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Berry College is partnering with the Georgia Department of Corrections to expand access to higher education for incarcerated individuals, with a focus on rehabilitation, personal growth, and successful reentry.

April 26, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Dan Cathy To Speak At Berry College Commencement

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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.

April 17, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Berry Farms Farmers Market Returns April 18 In Rome

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The Berry Farms Farmers Market is set to return this Saturday, April 18, offering a wide selection of locally grown and handcrafted goods in Rome.

The market, a student-run enterprise from Berry College, will be held from 9 AM until 12 PM at the Westcott parking lot on the Berry College campus.

Shoppers can expect a variety of fresh and locally sourced items, including Angus beef, herbs, potted plants, artisan cheeses, honey, and beeswax products, along with handcrafted goods produced by students and local vendors.

The market highlights products from Berry’s Season’s Harvest program and other student-led enterprises, giving visitors a chance to support both local agriculture and student entrepreneurship.

Organizers say the event is a great opportunity for the community to explore fresh products while supporting Berry College students and their hands-on learning experiences.

April 17, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Berry College’s First Day Of Giving Raises Nearly $500K

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The Berry College community came together in a big way for its first-ever Day of Giving on April 8, rallying around the theme “We All Row!”

March 31, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Free Forest Landowner Field Day Planned April 7 In Summerville

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Forest landowners across Northwest Georgia will have a chance to gain practical, hands-on advice for managing and improving their property during a free field day set for Tuesday, April 7, in Summerville.

March 13, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Berry College Issues Important Prom Season Reminder, Updates Photo Guidelines

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Berry College is reminding families and students to review its updated photography guidelines as prom and homecoming season brings a major increase in campus traffic.